The tension in the air was almost palpable as Hunter, Caleb, and I walked toward Caleb, who was waiting for us in the hotel lobby. His eyes were filled with anticipation, eager for news about our children, but the expression on my face betrayed the weight of failure.
Upon arrival, Caleb stared at us and shot the question echoing in his mind, “How did it go? Where are the kids?”
Hunter, with a serious expression, released a heavy sigh before responding, “The kids are not here.”
Disappointment took over Caleb's face. He approached me, attempting to find comfort in a hug, but my distant gaze revealed the pain I felt. The relentless search for Cassian, Dorian, and Kane was far from over, and the burden weighed heavily on me.
Caleb finally broke the heavy silence, expressing his condolences. “I'm sorry, Fierce. But now, we need to continue our search for Maxwell.”
Firmly, I looked at Caleb and said, “We're not going after Maxwell.”
Surprise stamped on Caleb's face, his eyes widened in disbelief. “No? Why not?”
Hunter intervened, “Because we have a new target now. Ignis.”
Confusion took hold of Caleb, who stammered as he questioned, “Ignis? Why on earth would we go after Ignis? Does she have any connection to Maxwell?”
Hunter, with a serious and determined expression, explained, “We have reasons to believe she's involved in this somehow. She took the kids from the hotel, and we saw it on the cameras.”
Caleb widened his eyes in understanding as I absorbed the information. Ignis, the Banshee, was now a suspect.
Hunter continued, “We need to find her as soon as possible. The children's lives may be in danger.”
Caleb, still stunned, asked, “Why would she do that? What would she gain by kidnapping the boys?”
“We can't ignore that possibility, Caleb. However, she has the children, that's a fact,” Hunter argued.
Caleb fell silent for a moment, processing the information. He sighed and finally said, “Alright, let's go after Ignis. But, Hunter, we need more information before acting impulsively.”
Hunter agreed, “You're right. We need to prepare.”
While discussing strategies, the idea of a possible connection between Ignis and Zora occurred to me. “Hunter, is there any chance Ignis has connected with Zora?”
Hunter dismissed the possibility. “If that had happened, Zora would have called me. I know Zora well enough to know she wouldn't stay silent in this situation.”
I looked directly at Hunter, suggesting, “Nevertheless, why don't you try calling her? Just to rule out the possibility.”
His gaze met mine, and without saying a word, he dialed Zora's number. Hunter stepped away to make the call, and my heart raced, awaiting a response. Caleb took advantage of the pause to question how we had gained access to the hotel cameras.
“How did you get access to the hotel cameras?” Caleb asked.
“It was Hunter,” I replied, feeling the need to explain. “He bought the hotel.”
The revelation seemed to surprise Caleb. “He bought what?”
“Hunter acquired the hotel for five million to ensure our unrestricted access to the necessary information,” I explained, aware that this extreme measure was vital for the search for our children.
Caleb's expression alternated between surprise and disbelief.
“Five million? Hunter bought the entire hotel for five million dollars?” Caleb repeated, seeking answers in my eyes.
I nodded, confirming it. “He thought it would be the best way to ensure we had unrestricted access to the information we need.”
Caleb rubbed his forehead, a gesture of consternation. “That's insane, but if it works...”
Hunter returned, with a serious demeanor. “Zora didn't pick up.”
The news added a new layer of uncertainty. Ignis was an enigma, and Zora's absence in the call deepened the mystery.
“It could be a larger conspiracy, or Ignis might be acting alone,” Hunter continued, analyzing all possibilities.
Caleb blinked, processing the information. “So, how are we going to deal with Ignis?”
Hunter crossed his arms, thoughtful. “We need to approach her cautiously. If she's really involved, we don't want to alert her before we have answers.”
I agreed. “Agreed. We need to find out why she would do this, if she did.”
Caleb concurred, “So, we need to find Ignis and figure out what's going on.”
Hunter suggested, “Let's act like we're moving forward with our search for Maxwell. We can't give her reasons to suspect.”
We agreed to follow Hunter's plan and, carefully, left the hotel lobby. The search for Cassian, Dorian, and Kane continued, but now we faced the additional challenge of understanding Ignis's motivations, the Banshee who had become an enigma in our journey.
---
Sitting in the back seat of the car, my mind wrestled between concern for my children and the recent twists in our desperate search. Caleb drove, Hunter beside him, while I drowned in thoughts about Cassian, Dorian, and Kane.
Caleb, sensing the need, suggested stopping for food and refueling the car. We agreed, and he parked at a gas station. While Caleb headed to the store, Hunter and I stood by the car, watching the refueling.
Hunter approached, his golden eyes capturing mine, and his voice, gentle, questioned my thoughts. “What are you thinking, Fierce?”
I shook my head, not needing to voice aloud what was already evident in my eyes. “I'm thinking about my kids, Hunter. Always them.”
Then, the burning question in me, was a fiery flame of curiosity and anxiety. “Why did you buy the hotel, Hunter?”
Hunter's golden eyes met mine, and his words were a straightforward and honest revelation. “It was the only way to deal with Peter at that moment. I knew it was the price to get what we needed.”
A reluctant sigh escaped me. “It's insane.”
He nodded, acknowledging the extravagance. “I know. But, Fierce, I would do anything for our children.”
I breathed deeply, a mix of gratitude and discomfort hanging in the air. “Thank you, Hunter.”
He looked at me, sensing my hesitation. “You don't seem very grateful.”
“I'm not used to someone doing this for me. In the past few years, I've been the one taking care of them, teaching and loving, all alone,” I explained, not accustomed to having someone make this kind of sacrifice for me.
Motherhood for me had always been a solitary journey, where teaching, caring, and loving were challenges I faced alone. Hunter held my hand, his strong fingers intertwining with mine, and he spoke words that resonated deeply within me.
“You're not alone anymore, Fierce. I'm here now for your kids, and, if you allow, for you too.”
My gaze met his, and I saw a profound sincerity. Those words touched something in me that had been dormant for a long time. Vulnerability surfaced, and I regarded it as a promise that, painful as it was to admit, was starting to bloom within me.
Hunter's deep gaze met mine, and before I could articulate any response, he leaned in, bringing his lips close to mine, but the moment was abruptly interrupted by the sharp ring of the phone.
He stepped back, answering the call, and I focused on the horizon, trying to regain composure.
“Hello,” Hunter said, his expression serious as he listened to the voice on the other end.
“Are you sure about this?” I heard Hunter ask.
My gaze fixed on Hunter, anxious for answers. Who was on the other end of the line? Hunter delivered the information straightforwardly.
Hunter looked at me, and his serious expression signaled that something important was happening. He hung up the phone and took a deep breath before speaking.
“Zora got in touch. Ignis is taking the boys to the pack.”
Shock ran through my body, and the gravity of the situation unfolded. Ignis was now leading our children to the pack.