chapter 70

Amra's POV

He never fucking responded.

Throwing open the heavy oak doors of the war room, I strode in, the weight of a hundred practiced smiles on my face. Inside, the grim atmosphere was a stark contrast to the jovial buzz of the feast I had just left.

Von, his brow furrowed in a deep concentration, stood hunched over a massive map sprawled across the table. Garren paced restlessly beside him. Both warriors turned towards me as I entered, their expressions mirroring the tension that hung thick in the air.

"Amra," Von boomed, his voice laced with relief. "Thank goodness you're here. We need your input."

I offered him a sympathetic smile, my voice dripping with concern. "No word yet? Surely, with all the warriors we have, finding her isn't that big of a problem? She wasn't where you found Ember?"

Amree was seated in the corner, looking worse for wear and sipping from a glass.

Garren snorted, a harsh sound devoid of humor. "We've questioned everyone we've arrested, scoured every lead, and come up empty-handed. They've vanished without a trace."

A flicker of satisfaction, sharp and cold, danced in my heart. At least that idiot had the decency to avoid being caught. Their frustration was music to my ears. The more dead ends they hit, the more desperate they would become. And a desperate pride was easily manipulated, more importantly, it meant that Ari had more time to suffer.

"Perhaps," I mused, feigning deep thought, "we should consider expanding the search radius. They could be holed up anywhere. Forests, mountains, even across the damn sea for all we know." I paused. "Are we... certain that she didn't leave of her own volition?"

Von's eyes flashed. "Why would you even suggest that? She's my mate?"

I swallowed. "I know, but... perhaps they had something on her? Someone she cared about still with them?" I paused. "Perhaps whoever has her now is... closer to her than we think."

He worked his jaw. "No."

"You have to admit that it's strange," I said. "No one else knew where they were going."

My words earned me a withering glare from Garren. Von, however, seemed to consider it.

"Amra might be right," he conceded, rubbing a hand over his brow. "We can't afford to leave any stone unturned... and no one else knew where they were going." He looked down. "That means that of the people who did... someone has a connection to these people."

"Including her." I said, inwardly rolling my eyes. "... and though it is not good to speak ill of the dead... That includes Ember."

"What are you saying?" Amree asked, her voice hollow.

"You've barely known either of them. What if... What if everything they said was a lie and this was all just an unfortunate situation?"

Von shook his head. "They weren't lying aboutt he abuse. Konor admitted that much... but if there was someone among the staff of the pride, or the captives that they were worried about..."

I hated how much faith he had in them, but at least he was thinking about it.

"Perhaps the children's father has them."

Garren narrowed his eyes. "And Ember? They were friends?"

"Maybe she tried to convince her to come back," I said. "Maybe it was an accident or she simply had to leave her behind to get out safely... A pregnany woman will do a lot for her cubs."

Von worked his jaw. Even Garren seemed to be thinking about it.

I looked over at Amree. "I'm sorry that I have to say this in front of you, given how you felt about her, but... for the sake of the pride we should be considering every angle."

Von nodded. "YOu're right."

Of course, I was.

"Since she was such an anomaly anyway, there's no real way to know the other half of the children, right?"

"And?"

"That means the father could be any shifter. Why not send out search parties to all the major shifter settlements? Surely, someone, somewhere, must have seen or heard something. They couldn't have gone far without supplies and you can only get supplies enough to last in the major settlements and cities."

This suggestion was even broader than the first. Garren looked frustrated, but I could tell he didn't have anything better to add.

"We'll think about it. The captains will be back with a report." Von sighed. "You'll be staying behind to defend the castle this time as well. Do me a favor and check in with Blane about the trucks."

I nodded, forcing a smile. "As you wish."

I left the war room, feeling triumphant. He'd spread the forces thin and wide, and they'd come up with nothing. I grabbed my phone to text Jasper again, but I got no answers again.

Where are you? If I can't see her, then when are you going to kill her and pay me?

No reply.

I hissed at the lack of reply and went to find Blane.