Beside Rebecca, Julian's small hand tightened around hers.
"Mother... what are we going to do?" he whispered fearfully as he stared at the strangers surrounding them.
"Our master suspected you might try to leave," the man at the front said with a smirk. "That's why he ordered us to keep watch. You didn't disappoint him."
Rebecca's heart sank.
With a slight tilt of the man's head, the others immediately closed in around her and Julian. Before either of them could make a sound, they were seized, and moments later they vanished into the darkness without a trace.
****
Meanwhile, everyone had returned to their usual duties, yet Rowan found himself growing more frustrated with each passing day. Three days had gone by since he had tasked Cedric with investigating the matter, and he still hadn't received any additional information.
At first he had been patient.
Now he wasn't so sure.
