Vincent.
I paced back and forth across the cold floor of my private room, my heavy footsteps echoing off the stone walls as I waited anxiously for a victory message from Daniel or Alaric. Minute after minute ticked by in agonizing silence, yet I still received none.
The waiting was driving me insane. I had given very clear, explicit orders regarding how this entire operation was to be handled. I had specifically instructed that Maria be brought back to me completely unharmed—not a single scratch was to be on her skin.
At the same time, I had also secretly dispatched a specialized unit of soldiers to shadow and protect Anabel from any possible harm. Whatever chaos unfolded out there, she had to remain safe; she was my mate, after all.
Suddenly, the heavy wooden door to my room burst open with a violent slam, shattering the quiet gloom, and Alaric barged into the space, panting heavily as he clutched his chest.
