Scene: Blackwood Citadel – Amara's War Room
POV: Amara
> "What did you just say?"
My voice wasn't loud.
It was still.
Too still.
Everyone in the room went silent—the councilors, the analysts, the B.A.M. operatives, even the damn air.
Marshal Teven stepped forward, helmet in hand, fear in his eyes—a man trained for death but not for this.
> "Your Majesty… the Flamebird—King Chris's jet—it's… it's gone down. Thirty-eight clicks northeast of the Western Corridor. No signal. No visual. We've lost contact with the entire team."
> "Lost contact?" I repeated. My pulse had vanished. I couldn't feel my fingers.
> "Yes, my Queen. We don't know if he—if they—"
> "Don't finish that sentence."
I turned slowly. My entire chest burned with ice.
This wasn't real. It wasn't possible.
Chris wasn't a man you lose contact with.
He wasn't someone you misplace.
He was a system, a force, a god in flesh.
He was my husband.
My king.
> "You're telling me," I said carefully, my words slicing the air like blades, "that an Empire capable of detecting heartbeats from orbit… lost its king?"
No one answered.
I clenched the table edge. I didn't realize my nails had broken skin.
> "Send Shadow Recon. Flame Search Units. Activate every dormant Black-Eye satellite. Get me the last ten minutes of sky traffic from our external grid. I want eyes on that wreck before the next damn breath leaves this room!"
> "Yes, my Queen!" several voices barked.
I turned to Admiral Silas.
> "Put out the emergency seal order. Lock every gate, port, shipyard, and airstrip in this Empire. I don't care if it's a palace or a farm—they don't move, they don't breathe, they don't think until Chris is found."
He hesitated for half a second too long.
I slapped the table.
> "DO IT!"
He jolted and ran.
I stood alone now, trembling with fire.
No. No. This wasn't happening. He promised.
He promised me he'd never leave me alone again.
Tears fought, but I bit them back.
> "Bring me his location," I whispered. "Or bring me every head responsible."
Because if he's dead…
Then so is the world.
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