My Sister Stole My Mate, And I Let Her Chapter 483 WALK INTO HELL

SERAPHINA’S POV

Sleep eluded both Kieran and me after the unsettling dream.

By the time morning arrived, the atmosphere had taken on a palpable tension, a heavy weight settling within the walls as if war had already breached our defenses.

I could feel the oppressive presence of impending conflict drawing nearer, transforming not only the ambient mood but every soul within its reach.

Even before the sun had fully crested the horizon, movement stirred in every corridor.

Warriors proceeded in disciplined formations, equipment and weaponry in tow, while voices from adjacent chambers merged in rapid exchanges. Reports were handed off with constant urgency. Messengers traversed the floors without a moment's rest.

The courtyard below had also undergone a dramatic change, now teeming with vehicles, supply crates, and ranks of armed combatants filling the open expanse.

Within the strategy room, I stood with my hands pressed firmly against the polished surface of the long table, my gaze fixed upon the holographic map displayed below.

The Maldives materialized on the projection, a mosaic of luminous blue and green fragments.

Thousands of islands presented themselves.

Countless locations for concealment.

Closing my eyes, I allowed the surrounding world to fade into a softer focus.

My attention turned inward. I recalled my mother’s gentle instruction.

‘Do not reach out like a hand. Reach like breath.’

A warmth spread through the intricate silver markings adorning my back.

Beneath the overwhelming currents of distant emotions and lives, which I had long trained myself not to be submerged by, I sensed a familiar, hidden pulse beating far away.

The sigil I had imprinted upon Jack throbbed within my perception, subtle yet persistent, like a heartbeat muffled by deep water. A scent of salt, of the ocean, of islands. Sorcery.

Darkness.

My eyes fluttered open.

“Is he still there?” Corin inquired softly.

I lifted my gaze to find every eye in the room fixed upon me, the air thick with unspoken tension and sharp anticipation.

Kieran stood opposite me, arms crossed over his chest, his expression inscrutable yet edged with strain.

Christian remained by the windows, hands clasped behind his back, while Ethan leaned casually against the far wall near Maya.

Alois sat occupied with his notes and documents, and Brett stood beside Maris.

Maxwell, shouldered against the wall, projected an image of ease that belied his watchful expression.

“Yes,” I confirmed in a low tone. “The mark remains unchanged.”

A collective sigh of relief, tinged with burgeoning anxiety, swept through the room, for its meaning was clear to all.

Jack was present.

Margaret was there.

Catherine was there.

Marcus, possibly.

Lucian, potentially.

A knot tightened in my chest, and I consciously pushed the thought away before it could take root.

Kieran was the first to break the charged silence.

“We strike today.”

His words were simple, absolute.

His gaze drifted towards the map.

“Catherine thrives on controlling the flow of battle. She values meticulous preparation and anticipates every move. She expects individuals to behave precisely as she foresees.”

Corin crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. “Which strongly suggests she won’t be expecting us to simply barge through her front door.”

Alois glanced up from his papers with a weary exhalation. “Let’s endeavor not to characterize an infiltration of an underground arcane research facility, operated by a profoundly dangerous individual, as merely ‘barge through her front door’.”

Corin made a dismissive gesture. “It’s semantics.”

I felt a smile tug at my lips as Alois shot Corin a look of utter exasperation.

Then, Maya’s voice cut cleanly through the room. “No.”

All heads turned.

Maya stood by the doorway, arms crossed defensively across her chest, her glare fixed on Ethan as if contemplating the most effective method of dispatch.

“No?” Ethan questioned, echoing her.

“No.”

Ethan mirrored her stance. “Maya, you are not participating.”

Maya’s arms remained crossed, defiance blazing in her eyes. “I am absolutely participating.”

Ethan let out a sigh, the weariness evident in his posture. “You are pregnant.”

Maya’s expression shifted to one of offense. “And that somehow negates years of combat experience? A three-week gestation period?”

“You heard the healer’s assessment yesterday,” Ethan countered, his voice firm. “Your pregnancy is precarious. It would be reckless to disregard that warning.”

Maya’s brow furrowed.

Then her eyes narrowed.

“Reckless?”

Ethan seemed to grasp his misstep a fraction too late.

“Looks like he’s stepped in it,” Corin muttered from my side.

Indeed, he had.

Maya advanced a single, deliberate step.

“I have faced down rogues, sorceresses, assassins, and corrupted lycans.”

Another step brought her closer.

“I have endured stabbings, gunshot wounds, and potent poisons.”

Ethan held his ground, resolute.

“I am aware of your capabilities.”

“And now, inexplicably, I am considered fragile?”

His tone softened slightly. “No, Maya. That is not the implication.”

“I am carrying a child, Ethan. I am not completely incapacitated.”

Ethan pushed himself away from the wall, his resolve hardening.

“No one has suggested you are on the verge of death.”

“Your collective gazes make me feel as though I am fashioned from brittle glass.”

“That is not the intention.”

Maya’s eyes swept over the small assembly that had gathered.

Instantly, everyone averted their gaze—Maris bit her lip, Brett nervously adjusted his sleeve, and Corin focused intently on a barely perceptible crack in the wall, his blinking virtually ceasing.

But my focus stayed on my best friend, a soft clearing of my throat the only sound. "Maya."

Her eyes shot towards me, a mixture of fury and disbelief flashing within them. “Not you, too.”

I approached her deliberately. "I am aware you are not weak."

Her expression softened marginally, a flicker of uncertainty mingling with her rage as she grasped my intention.

"However, at this moment, this situation concerns more than just you. We cannot afford any harm to come to the precious pup you are carrying.”

Her jaw clenched, and she averted her gaze completely from me.

I reached out to take her hand.

"Furthermore, we require someone we can depend on here," I stated calmly. "Daniel is present. OTS is here. Those who are not engaged in the fight are also here."

Ethan moved to stand beside her, taking her other hand. “And I will not abandon you. We will remain together and guard the rear.”

Maya took a deep breath, her pride and defiance subsiding as vulnerability and hesitation surfaced.

For several prolonged moments, she remained silent.

Then, a low utterance escaped her lips, "You assholes better all return in one piece.”

This time, a smile did grace my lips.

Because beneath the annoyance, the anger, and the resolute stubbornness etched on her face, I could clearly discern the genuine emotion surfacing: fear.

Not for her own well-being.

Fear for our safety.

Fear of being left behind to wait.

Because sometimes, the act of waiting on the sidelines proved more challenging than stepping directly into the fray.

***

I located Daniel outside my room not long after.

He was seated with his back against the wall, knees drawn up to his chest, his gaze fixed on the floor in silent contemplation.

A pang of sadness struck my heart at the sight of him.

"Hi, baby."

His head lifted, and the instant his eyes met mine, he rose to his feet.

I closed the distance between us and pulled him into my embrace without a second thought.

He reciprocated the hug immediately, holding me tighter than he had in a considerable time.

For a lengthy period, silence enveloped us. I simply held him, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.

"You must come back," he stated softly.

My throat constricted.

I pulled back just enough to meet his gaze.

"I will."

His eyes fell.

“You have to promise,” his voice was barely a whisper. “I can’t… I can’t lose you.”

A silent ache spread through my chest as I recalled all the instances where I had been forced to let him go, trusting that he would remain safe and eventually return to me.

“I promise,” I declared, our fingers intertwining. “You will never lose me.”

His grip tightened around my hand.

“I had a dream.”

An immediate chill of dread permeated my being.

“What kind of dream?”

Daniel frowned. “I don’t know; I couldn’t see much clearly.”

My pulse began to quicken.

“It was dark. But I saw stars.”

I looked at him intently, my mind working swiftly to decipher the potential meaning.

Daniel shook his head. “I don’t grasp its significance.”

Nor did I.

Yet, like my own, Daniel’s dreams were never without meaning.

I knelt before him and gently pressed my forehead against his.

Reaching into my pocket, I opened my palm between us, and his compass glinted in the fading afternoon light.

“I will return,” I murmured.

His eyes became fixated on the small metallic object, hope and fear warring within them, and he nodded, his throat bobbing with unspoken emotion.

Kieran materialized beside us moments later. “If anyone is curious, my intention is also to return.”

Daniel looked towards his father and instantly launched himself into his arms.

Kieran caught him with effortless grace, holding him close.

Daniel buried his face into Kieran’s shoulder.

“You’d better,” he mumbled.

Kieran planted a kiss atop his head. “We shall be back before you even realize we’re gone.”

There was no hesitation. No trace of doubt.

Only an unwavering conviction.

Daniel nodded slowly.

Then, he released his embrace.

Hours afterward, we were positioned outside, near the waiting aircraft beyond the boundaries of Nightfang.

Rank upon rank of warriors stood arrayed nearby, meticulously chosen from Nightfang, Frostbane, Seabreeze, OTS, and every allied territory that possessed the willingness to venture into the abyss with us.

I cast one final glance backward.

Daniel stood alongside Maya and Ethan, while Christian remained behind them, observing in quiet solitude.

Protecting their home.

Kieran’s hand found mine, and I returned the gesture with a firm squeeze.

Then, I turned my gaze towards the indistinct horizon.

Towards Margaret.

Towards Catherine.

Towards the lurking darkness concealed beneath serene waters.

The silver mark within me pulsed—as if it already sensed our ultimate destination. As if it had been anticipating my arrival to follow its path.

“Let us bring them home,” I whispered.

We were no longer awaiting Catherine’s return.

We were embarking on a mission to retrieve her.