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But even as I tried to steady myself, I knew one thing with brutal certainty: I couldn’t wait forever.

If I was going to get out of here, it would be because I did something about it.

Because Lucas would come. And because now, we had to trust a stranger.

Chapter Six

Lucas

Five days.

It had been five days since they took her from me, but it felt longer. The hours stretched and bent under the weight of every second I hadn’t heard her voice. It had been five days since Kael disappeared into enemy territory.

Five days of silence. No word. No sign.

And it was driving me mad.

The cottage felt too small, the walls too close. The fire in the hearth crackled, but it didn’t chase away the chill that had settled in my bones. Nothing could. Not while she was out there, all alone.

I paced, each step echoing off the stone floors. My hands curled into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms. The longer I waited, the worse it got. My mind wouldn’t stop conjuring horrible images… Annika bleeding, broken, calling for me while I sat here doing nothing.

The door creaked open, and Callum stepped inside. His eyes swept over me, sharp but cautious, like he was bracing for a fight.

“You need to sit down,” he said.

I didn’t stop pacing. “I can’t.”

“You’ll tear this place apart if you keep at it.”

“Let it burn.”

His jaw tightened. “Lucas.”

I turned to him then, and whatever he saw in my face made him hesitate. I felt it too, that simmering rage barelyleashed beneath the surface. It had been building for days, pressing harder with every moment Annika wasn’t in my arms.

“I can’t wait anymore.” My voice came out rough, low, barely controlled. “I should have gone myself. I should have—”

“Kael will come through.”

I shook my head. “You don’t know that.”

“You chose to trust him. So, trust him.”

“He’s been gone five days!” My voice snapped through the room, and Callum flinched. “Five days without a word, without proof he’s even alive.”

The silence after felt heavier than it should have. Callum didn’t argue, probably because he knew I was right.

I ran a hand through my hair, pacing again. “I should’ve gone after her.”

“You would’ve gotten yourself killed,” Callum said quietly.

I stopped and stared at him. “And maybe that would’ve been better than this.”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t.”

“She’s out there, Callum. Alone. Scared.” My voice cracked, and I hated it. I hated how raw I felt. “And I can’t feel her anymore.”

Callum’s expression softened, but it didn’t help.