Chapter 125.

Chapter 125.
125\. Ethan.

I had just finished work late, exhausted and needing some good rest. I was thinking about passing Rachael's room and saying hi. I held a small bracelet in my hands. I had sent one of the juniors to get the jewellery for me.

This would have been my first gift to Rachael, and the thought of handing it to her made me incredibly excited. I had been looking forward to seeing the smile on her face when she opened the small box containing the diamond bracelet. I had barely climbed up the stairs when Chekov started running up the stairs below me, his footsteps echoing through the hallway.

"Is that you, Lord Ethan?" he asked, his voice laced with urgency. I looked down the stairs, my brow furrowed in concern. "Is something wrong?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities. Was a village under attack? Had the rogues launched a surprise assault? I couldn't think of anything else that would prompt Chekov to rush up the stairs like that.

But then he delivered the news that made my heart skip a beat. "Sir, Lady Rachael has been abducted by Sirius!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with worry. I felt like I had been punched in the gut, and I nearly dropped the diamond bracelet on the ground. I gasped for air, my lungs feeling like they had been emptied.

"Do—do you have confirmation?" I stuttered, my mind reeling with the implications. I needed to know that this wasn't just a rumour, that it wasn't just some wild goose chase. Chekov's expression was grim, and he nodded solemnly.

"We have confirmation that Sirius has her," he said, his voice firm. "He is on a live video call now, requesting to see you." My world seemed to come crashing down around me. Rachael, the woman I cared about, was in the hands of my enemy.

My legs felt jelly-like, as if they had been drained of all strength. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, and my stomach churned with a mix of anxiety and fear. How did it happen? Who did it? How did he infiltrate our ranks and pull it off? The questions swirled in my mind like a maelstrom, each one more terrifying than the last.

"How did he do it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I felt like I was going to collapse, like the weight of the world had been placed on my shoulders. Whoever guarded and let Sirius slip in was going to pay dearly with their life. I would make sure of it.

Chekov's expression was grim, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and anger. "You wouldn't believe it," he said, shaking his head. "It's Sarah." I felt like I had been punched in the gut again. Sarah? The same Sarah who had been by my side, who had been a trusted member of our team? It couldn't be.

But Chekov's words were like a cold splash of reality. "She was the mole we were looking for," he said, his voice heavy with disappointment. "She was working for Sirius the whole time." I felt like I was living in a nightmare, like everything I thought I knew had been turned upside down. Sarah, the traitor? It was almost too much to bear.

I couldn't process this information, couldn't wrap my head around the fact that someone I trusted had been playing a double game all along. The thought sent a chill down my spine, and I felt a wave of anger and betrayal wash over me. How could she do this? How could she betray us like this? I would have to confront her, would have to make her pay for her treachery. But first, I had to get Rachael back.

I covered my face and clenched my fist. "Why? Why?! Why?!" I slammed my fist against the railing. "Lead me to Sirius."

"Yes, my lord."

The war council gathered in the special operation room in the basement, the air thick with tension and urgency. Nathan stood in front of the large screen, his face a mirror image of mine, seething with unfathomable rage. His eyes burned with a fierce determination, and I could sense the anger and frustration emanating from him.

"Nathan," I said, my voice low and even, as I arrived at the scene. Nathan's gaze didn't waver, his eyes fixed intently on the screen.

"Ethan," he replied, his voice equally low and menacing. He pointed at the screen, his finger jabbing at the image of Sirius. The live video coverage showed Sirius standing in front of a dark, ominous backdrop, somewhere deep within the forest. He waved at us, a smug smile spreading across his face.

"Hey, I decided to be a gentleman and call first," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "It seems like you never noticed she was gone." The camera panned to Rachael, and my heart sank. She was strapped to a chair, her body slumped forward, barely moving. Her eyes were glazed over, and her skin was pale and clammy.

I felt a surge of anger and helplessness, my mind racing with thoughts of how this could have happened. How could we have let our guard down like this? How could Sarah have betrayed us so thoroughly? I glanced at Nathan and saw the same emotions reflected in his eyes.

Sirius's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm sure you're eager to negotiate," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "After all, you do want to get your precious Rachael back, don't you?" The screen flickered, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of hope. But then Sirius's face returned, his smile still plastered on his face.

Lyanna gasped and I noticed her for the first time. "That's a runic circle, it won't allow her to use magic." Tears rolled down her face. "What does this evil man want to do to my Rachael?" Her voice broke.

"If you want her back, you have to come get her. It's time to fight against me, your men against my men. You versus me. You can bring Nathan, if he wants to tag along because I don't think one of you can take me."

"I'm going to get you for this!" I pointed at Sirius.

Sirius laughed and pointed somewhere. "Sarah, please come over here and say hi to your previous employer!" He ushered Sarah over and she stood there. I felt disgusted to look at her.

"Sarah, you are the worst. You are human scum, never show your face to me again," I insulted her.

"Whoa, a lot of emotions!"

"Where are you? Don't you dare touch a strand of hair on her head!" I growled.

"Find her yourself. You might still have time, but I will kill her before then. The moon comes out tonight, and at midnight I will kill her and use her blood for my rituals."

"You bastard—"

"Oh shut up. This land is mine. Your throne is mine, your father's coat of leadership is mine, if you like it or not!" He ended the feed.