The moment Mia vanished, the room felt like it had been ripped apart. The air itself was heavy, like it was pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. My mind raced. One second, she was here pale, fragile, but alive and the next, she was gone, snatched away by that shadowy figure. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

Madriod was the first to speak, his voice sharp and commanding, “We can’t waste time. Whoever or whatever that was, they’re not going to stop at taking her. They want more.”

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. “Then let’s go after them,” I...