Daughter Of Shadow's King

Chapter 8: The One They Seek

I watched her, my eyes fixed on the girl with the rose-gold hair. Hazel, the missing piece of the Shadow King's puzzle. She had no idea who she was, or what she was in for. I needed to be sure she was the one before making any moves.

I'd been keeping tabs on her since she arrived in college. The rose scent, the oceanic eyes... she was the spitting image of her mother. My aunt Francesca, the one who'd been looking for her daughter for 18 years. But I'd seen lookalikes before, and I couldn't afford to be wrong.

My phone buzzed. It was a message from my uncle, Lorenzo: "Any updates on Hazel? We're running out of time."

I sigh. I wasn't going to spill the beans... yet. I typed back: "Still looking. Need more info. Don't push it."

Hazel was laughing with friends, completely clude to the danger lurking in the shadows. If she was the one, she deserved to live in peace... for now. But if she was... she'd bring power, she'd bring strength. She'd bring the Shadow King his missing piece.

I leaned back in my car, a plan forming in my mind. I'd watch her, protect her from afar... and make sure she was the one. I'd dig into her past, find out if there were any hidden clues.

My uncle's family was my priority. If Hazel was his daughter, she'd be treated like royalty, and I'd make sure she was prepared for what was to come. If not... I'd protect the family, no matter what.

For now, she'd live in the dark, unaware of the storm brewing. But I'd be watching. I'd be waiting.

I started the car, driving away from the campus. Time to do some digging. Time to find out who Hazel really was.

I pulled over, pulling out my phone. I keep texting my own men to keep an eye on Hazel.

There was something there, something I was missing. A thread, a clue... I just needed to find it.

Lorenzo's POV,

I stepped off the private jet, the cool evening air hitting me like a slap in the face. We'd arrived the last known location of my missing daughter. Eighteen years, eighteen long years I'd been searching.

My wife, Francesca, squeezed my hand. "We'll find her, Lorenzo." Her voice was steady, but I knew she was worried.

Our entourage moved swiftly through customs, our people taking care of everything. We were the Shadow King and Queen, and we'd get what we wanted.

As we settled into the convoy, I checked my phone. Reports from my men were flooding in. They were closing in, I could feel it.

We drove through the city, the neon lights blurring. My mind was on my daughter, on what she'd be like. Eighteen years old, beautiful, powerful ... like her mother.

The convoy stopped. We were at the safe house. Time to get to work.

I walked in, surrounded by my top men. "Status?" I asked.

One of them stepped forward. "Sir, we've got leads in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. We're checking them out."

I nodded. "Keep me updated. I want to know the moment you find something."

Francesca touched my arm. "Lorenzo, you need to rest. You've been searching for so long."

I shook my head. "I won't rest until she's back."

My sons, Dominic and Matteo, walked in. "Father, what's the plan?" Dominic asked.

I smiled. "We'll find her. And when we do, we'll bring her home. Dominic, I want you to oversee the European operations. Matteo, you're in charge of Asia."

They nodded. We were a team, a family.

I turned to Francesca. "We'll find her. And when we do, the Shadow Kingdom will rise."

We spent the next few hours going over plans, making sure everything was in place. My men were the best, and they'd find my daughter.

As the meeting ended, I looked at Francesca. "It's been eighteen years. What if..."

She cut me off. "She's alive, Lorenzo. I feel it."

I nodded. She was right. My daughter was out there, and I'd find her.

I checked my phone. A message from Aiden, my nephew: "Uncle, I think I've found something."

My heart skipped a beat. Could it be?

I texted back: "What is it?"

The response was immediate: "A girl matching the description. In town. I'll keep watching."

I smiled. Time to bring my daughter home. I know it's not going to be an easy task but we're not gonna give up.

I read Aiden's message, my mind racing. A girl matching the description, in town. Could it be?

But I couldn't just blow the lid off. Not yet. I needed to be sure, and I needed to protect her. If this was my daughter, she'd be walking into a storm.

I turned to Francesca. "Aiden thinks he's found a lead. A girl in town matching the description."

Her eyes lit up. "What do we do?"

I smiled, a plan forming. "First, we're going to get our boys in place. Nevan and Vincenzo, they'll enroll as students. Dominic, Stefano, and Matteo will pose as professors."

Francesca nodded. "Good. And Aiden?"

I smile. "He'll keep watching. If this is Hazel, I want to know everything about her."

I called in Dominic and Matteo. "Boys, new plan. Get Nevan and Vincenzo enrolled at the local university. Dominic, Stefano, and Matteo will join the faculty."

Dominic nodded. "Got it, Father."

Matteo smiled. "Time to get the family in place."

I turned to Francesca. "We'll play it safe. If this is our girl, I don't want to scare her off."

We spent the next few hours making arrangements, getting our people in place. Nevan and Vincenzo were briefed, gearing up for their new roles. Dominic, Stefano, and Matteo were ready to pose as professors.

I checked my watch. Time to get moving. Aiden would keep watching, and we'd be ready.

"Nevan, Vincenzo, get in place," I said. "Dominic, Stefano, Matteo, get teaching."

They nodded. The Shadow King's family was on the move.

I smiled. The game was on. Time to bring my daughter home.

As the night wore on, I kept checking for updates. Aiden's messages were steady – the girl was normal, happy. But I knew better. If this was Hazel, she'd be more.

Francesca leaned in. "We'll get her, Lorenzo."

I nodded. We would. And when we did, the Shadow Kingdom would rise.