Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 288

Nathan's POV

The seer stood in the middle of the room, very still.

Too still.

Her eyes were closed. Her lips moved slowly as she whispered words I didn't understand. Symbols carved into the floor glowed faintly beneath her feet, then dimmed, then glowed again.

I watched her hands.

They were shaking.

That alone told me this was bad.

Then suddenly, she gasped.

Her eyes flew open, wide with shock.

I stepped forward instantly. "What did you see?"

She shook her head once. "I didn't."

My chest tightened. "What do you mean you didn't?"

"There is a spell," she said carefully. "A very strong one. Someone has blocked her from being seen."

Anger rushed through me so fast I felt dizzy.

"You're a seer," I snapped. "You're supposed to see everything."

She didn't flinch. She just looked at me with tired eyes.

"This is not a normal hiding spell," she said. "This was built with intention. With emotion. With obsession."

That word made my wolf snarl.

"So that's it?" I demanded. "You tell me my mate is gone and there's nothing we can do?"

"There is something," she replied.

I stilled. "Then say it."

She turned fully toward me.

"You are her mate," she said slowly. "Your bond with her is older and stronger than any ward placed by another man."

My heart started pounding harder.

"What are you saying?" I asked.

"I cannot see her," the seer continued. "But you might be able to feel her. Through the bond."

Peter stepped closer. "Is that safe?"

The seer hesitated.

"It will not be easy," she admitted. "The bond is raw. She is afraid. If I open that door, he will feel everything she feels. Pain. Fear. Confusion."

I didn't hesitate for even a second.

"Do it," I said.

Peter grabbed my arm. "Nathan—"

"She's alone," I cut in sharply. "And someone took her. I don't care what it costs."

The seer nodded slowly. "Sit."

I dropped into the chair without thinking.

She stepped in front of me and placed two fingers against my forehead.

"Clear your mind," she instructed. "Do not fight what you see."

She began to chant.

The air around me thickened. The room felt smaller. Heavier. Like the walls were closing in.

Then—

Everything dropped away.

I wasn't in the room anymore.

I was somewhere else.

At first, I saw nothing but darkness.

Then shapes formed.

Stone walls.

Dim light.

A narrow room.

My heart jumped painfully.

I knew this wasn't imagination.

This was real.

Then I saw her.

Hailee.

She was sitting on the edge of a bed, her back straight, her hands clenched tightly together in her lap. She looked pale. Smaller somehow. Like the strength had been drained out of her.

"Hailee," I whispered.

I rushed toward her.

But before I could reach her—someone stepped between us.

I stopped short.

Frederick. He stood there calmly, like this was his space. Like he belonged there.

Rage exploded through me.

"You," I growled. "So it is you."

Fredrick looked at me without surprise. Without fear.

"Yes," he said simply. "It is."

My hands clenched into fists. "Where is she? What have you done to her?"

He didn't answer right away. He glanced over his shoulder—at Hailee.

"She is safe," he said quietly. "Safer than she's ever been."

I laughed bitterly. "You drugged her. You chained her. You kidnapped her. You call that safe?"

He finally looked back at me, his eyes hard.

"She belongs to me," he said. "She always has."

Something inside me snapped.

I lunged at him.

My hands passed straight through his body.

Like smoke.

"No!" I roared, trying again.

Nothing.

I wasn't really there.

This was only a vision.

Fredrick stepped closer, his face inches from mine.

"You should never have left her alone," he said calmly. "That was your mistake."

The room began to blur.

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