From Substitute To Queen novel Chapter 93

Chapter 93

I moved from guest to guest, my heart pounding faster with each shake of the head, each “Sorry, I haven’t seen her.”

After questioning nearly a dozen people with no luck, an elderly woman in a beaded navy dress approached me, 1 recognized her as Mrs. Patterson, one of the Crawford pack members.

“Oh, that little girl, Mrs. Patterson said. “I saw a little girl walking toward the forest path with one of the catering staff about twenty minutes azo

The air left my lungs in a rush. “What did he look like?

Tall, dark hair. Wearing a server’s uniform, but…” Mrs. Patterson’s frown deepened, “Now that I think about it, he seemed out of place. Too well-dressed for catering work.

Terror crashed over me like a physical blow. Someone had taken Daisy. This wasn’t a child wandering off to explore-this was a kidnapping.

1 immediately reached out through the mind-link, searching for Caelan’s consciousness.

“Caelan! Daisy’s been kidnapped! Someone saw her being led into the forest by a fake server!”

Caelan’s response came back sharp with alarm. “What?! Sabi, where are you?”

“Im still at the ceremony site. A witness saw them heading toward the forest path about twenty minutes ago!”

“Damn it! Sabi, stay exactly where you are! I’m coming. Don’t go anywhere alone! This is definitely a trap!”

“I can’t just wait here! She’s my little sister, Caelan. I can’t let them hurt her!”

“Sabi, listen to me-

But I was already moving. The mind-link connection wavered as I focused on the path Mrs. Patterson had indicated. My sister was out there somewhere, possibly terrified, possibly in danger.

I couldn’t just stand around waiting for rescue teams to organize themselves.

The forest path wound deeper into the woods, away from both the ceremony clearing and the cliff where Blair’s rescue was taking place.

My heels sank into the soft earth with each step. But I pressed forward, following the narrow trail deeper into the wilderness.

Cacian’s POV

I was standing waist deep in the freezing lake water, duecting the search teams who were combing the area where Blait had disappeared.

“Edward!” I shonated, wading back toward alice “Take ones the super!have to get back to the ceremony site immediately!”

Edward splashed toward me, his face questioning Your Majesty whats happ

“Sable’s sister has been kidnapped. I was already pulling was my jasket Continues the search for Blair, but send half the warriors back.”

I started running toward the forest path, my mind racing thigh possibilities Why would be bold enough to target Daisy?

Halfway back to the ceremony site, I encountered my parents hurrying toward me

‘Caelan!” Katherine called out. Any word on Blair?”

“Sable’s sister has been kidnapped!” I shouted without stopping. Edward’s handling the rescue!”

11:34 Fri, 22 Aug M

Chapter 93

I continued running toward the ceremony clearing.

But when I burst through the treeline, my worst fears were confirmed.

The ceremony area was in chaos. Guests milled around in confused clusters, some calling Daisy’s name, others demanding to know what was happening.

But Sable was nowhere to be seen.

A server carrying a tray of red wine suddenly stepped into my path from the side

“Your Majesty!” The man stumbled, and an entire tray of red wine crashed to the ground. The liquid splashed across my dress shirt and jacket, staining the fabric deep crimson.

“I’m so sorry!” he babbled, immediately pulling out a napkin and dabbing at the mess. “Please, let me clean this up! This will stain permanently if we don’t treat it right away!”

I tried to step around him, but he moved to block my path again.

‘It’s fine-

“No, no, this is my fault! I have to fix this! This wine will ruin your formal wear! Please, just let me→

I grabbed the man’s wrist, my grip tight enough to make him wince. “Get. Out. Of. My. Way.”

I shoved him aside hard enough to send him sprawling and sprinted toward the forest path. But then I suddenly realized he was deliberately stalling me.

Sable’s POV

The forest path led to a clearing deep in the woods. Trees formed a natural amphitheater around a space.

And there, tied to the trunk of a massive oak, was Daisy.

My heart broke at the sight of her. My sister was bound with rough rope, duct tape covering her mouth. Her eye were wide with terror, and tears had carved tracks down her dirt-stained cheeks.

Two men in black clothing stood near her, both clearly Rogues from their scent and the predatory way they moved. They turned toward me as I stepped into

the clearing.

“Sable Crawford,” the taller one said with a cold smile. “Right on time.”

“Let her go,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “She’s just a child. She has nothing to do with any of this.”

‘Oh, but she has everything to do with this. The second Rogue stepped closer to Daisy, his hand resting on a silver knife at his belt. ‘She’s our insurance policy.”

I took a step forward. “What do you want?’

“What do we want? The first Rogue laughed. “We want you to come here quietly. No fighting, no screaming, no trying to mind-link your precious Lycan King’

If I cooperate, you’ll let Daisy go?”

“Maybe. His smile turned cruel. “Depends on how cooperative you are.”

I looked at my terrified sister, at the ropes cutting into her small wrists, at the tape that was probably making it hard for her to breathe through her nose. The sight filled me with a rage so pure it felt like fire in my veins.

“Okay,” I said quietly. ‘Ill come with you. But let her go first.”

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11:34 Fri, 22 Aug M

Chapter 93

The two Rogues exchanged glances.

“I don’t think so, the taller one said. “You come here first. Then we’ll untie the brat.”

I had no choice. Daisy’s safety came before everything else.

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I walked toward them, my hands raised to show I wasn’t armed. Every step felt like walking toward my own execution, but I forced myself to keep moving.

When I was close enough to touch Daisy, I knelt down and looked into her frightened eyes.

“Daisy,” I whispered, pulling the tape gently from her mouth. “Listen to me carefully. As soon as these ropes come off, you run straight back toward the lights. Find Dad and don’t stop running, okay?”