a/n: welcome to me procrastinating when im supposed to be paying attention to class. short ish and not much happens in this chapter but i'm so pumped for what I have planned ;-;

Chapter 16

I observed the settings of the room. Biana was sitting down on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other and a somber expression having taken form on her facade. I noted she had put on a thick layer of mascara and wore dark purple eyeshadow that surprisingly brought out her eyes. Her lips were plump with dark purple lipstick applied to them, and the apple of her cheeks were enunciated with the contouring she did.

I found myself admiring her for a moment, and realized I never really appreciated how gorgeous Biana was. She was flawless with or without makeup.

Then with a correction, I remind myself that that was how all elves were. They all had that strange ethereal beauty that naturally blessed themselves from the beginning. Especially ancient families like the Vackers. They absolutely had that elven glow.

I quickly snapped my head back, tearing my concentration off of her and rotating my focus around the large circular room.

Della was pacing frantically around the couches, Mr Forkle and all his wrinkly glory was seated down on the floor beside Sir Tiergan, who was notably in his Granite disguise as of right now.

Wylie sat next to Linh, who looked strangely calm for what had occurred, but I was sure she was expecting the distress nonetheless- I saw Wylie's mouth move as he silently said a few words of comfort to her.

I turned my eyes over to where Fitz sat down, his hair rather messy despite the fact that he might've been asleep. He had to have slept pretty well.

My gaze traveled over the room until it landed on Alden. He was repeatedly running his hand through his hair, mumbling something to himself.

A pinch of anger simmered inside of my stomach. How had nobody had been this perturbed when Keefe had gone missing? Was it that Tam was suddenly valued more than Keefe's presence? I was worried about the both of them- the Neverseen two of our members, who I should add hated each other with a strong passion, now they'd probably be forced to work together against us, and who knows what they're being forced to do?

What if they're pushed to limits that Jolie was pushed to?

Keefe didn't seem that worried about that and Tam could probably handle it, but I was also concerned about what purpose they had for Tam.

They needed a new Shade of course, considering Umber was long dead, but they had tried to take Tam before and it had resulted unsuccessfully for them.

"Sophie, you're here," Della said in a strained voice, interrupting my process of thinking, holding out her arms for an embrace.

I step forwards and she engulfs me in a tight motherly hug.

"Have you informed Grady and Edaline about this?" Sandor's high pitched squeal came from behind me.

"Yes, we have. They should be on their way," Della answered as I pulled myself out of her unwilling arms.

"See. There was no reason for you to leave so abruptly the way you did," Sandor reprimanded me, but my thoughts were stuck on Tam.

Biana had mentioned that Keefe said something about Tam being unsafe, and it looked like the Black Swan hadn't even had enough time to react and process that news because Tam was gone.

Taken.

And there was nothing we could even do about it.