175
Alaric’s POV
Blood still seeped through the hastily applied bandages around my torso, and every breath felt like fire scraping through my lungs, but I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop. Not while Emilia was still out there, God knows where, and I was stuck here, feeling useless.
The main room was buzzing with tension as my men filtered in, some fresh-faced and ready for orders, others worn down by the constant chaos of the last few hours. Allesio hovered near the corner, his eyes darting to me with a mix of concern and frustration. I knew he wanted me to rest, but I didn’t have the luxury of time or the patience for his nagging.
“We hit every lead,” I said, my voice low but sharp enough to cut through the hum of conversation. “What did we find?”
Silence.
“Nothing?” My voice rose, th
