PLEASE BE SAFE

Alaric paced the grand hall of his mansion, his usually steady demeanor unraveling with each passing moment. The towering windows let in the dim light of the fading evening, but his focus was elsewhere. Adrianna hadn't returned, and his instincts screamed that something was wrong. She wasn't answering her phone, and her absence felt longer than usual. Alaric knew Adrianna well enough to understand that she had a reckless streak—a dangerous trait for someone in her position.

He rubbed his temples, trying to piece together her possible whereabouts. "Damn it, Adrianna," he muttered under his breath. Deciding to start with the most obvious possibility, he reached for his phone and dialed a familiar number. It rang twice before Cathay picked up.

"Hello?" Cathay's voice came through, curious but calm.

"Cathay, this is Alaric Knight," he said briskly, wasting no time with pleasantries. "Is Adrianna with her children?"