Chapter 135

Cara’s POV

I allow myself only a few moments of weakness, wrapped in Alaric’s arms, before I drag my determination back to the forefront of my thoughts and harden myself for what’s to come.

We’ll have to move again, but Alaric has many houses over many different locations. If we are careful, if we plan better, we can always be on the move to keep from being found again.

“I’ll make a few calls,” Alaric says. “I’ll get things moving as soon as possible.”

He seems hesitant to move right away, though, as if there is something holding him back.

“Alaric?” I ask.

“Forgive me,” he says and shakes his head lightly. “With everything going on, the concern on my mind is such a trivial thing in comparison.”

“Tell me anyway,” I say. “I want to feel normal for a moment. Any concern that isn’t worry over our lives is one I will welcome to talk through with you.”

“It’s the kids,” he says. “Ethan already hates me. I worry that forcing him to move time and again will only make those feelings worse.”

That is not a trivial matter, and I know he doesn’t truly feel that way. I suppose, in comparison, to our lives being in danger, that is something that we could put off handling until later. But how terrible it must feel for Alaric to finally be reunited with his children, only for one of them to refuse to bond with him.

“Ethan doesn’t hate you,” I say, and I truly believe that. In time, I’m sure Ethan will open up to Alaric and they will become more closely connected. For now though… “Here’s just being cautious.”

“I know, and I understand,” Alaric says. “But I’m afraid I’m only going to continue to disappoint him.”

“You won’t,” I say. Then, thinking, I add, “I will help you. I’m sure with me helping, we can work to mend the relationship between you two.”

There’s fresh hope in his eyes, though it’s carefully muted among all of the concern he must feel for all of us and the guilt over what’s happening.

“We will fix it,” I tell him. Then, considering, I say, “Why don’t we go check on them together right now. They should be up in their rooms.” Glancing down at the letter, I add, “I’ll feel better myself when I see them.”

“Me, too,” he says.

We look at each other and a new understanding passes between us. Then, with a small nod, I turn and lead the way. As we walk, I fold the paper back up and hand it to Alaric, who tucks it away in his jacket pocket.

Upstairs, the hallway is suspiciously quiet. It seems too early in the day for the kids to be doing their tutor-assigned homework.

After knocking, I open Mia’s door first.

Her room is empty. Odd. Didn’t she just tell me that she was going to go play upstairs? Perhaps she changed her mind.

I go to Ethan’s room next. Perhaps they are together. After all, they did leave the living room together, claiming to want to play in their rooms.

I open his door next. Like Mia’s, this room is also empty.

It’s a large mansion. My mind shouldn’t initially jump to worry, and yet it goes straight there all the same. The kids said they were coming to play in their rooms. I’m sure of it.

“Alaric,” I say, looking back at him.

He must see the fear in my eyes, because he immediately steps out into the hall and calls for one of his staff. “Spread the word. Find the kids. I want to know exactly which room they are in as soon as possible. But don’t frighten them.”

The servant nods and hurries to abide by his request.

Yet, even with them searching, I can’t get over the feeling that something in this room is terribly wrong.

Ethan’s textbooks and workbooks are strewn chaotically over his bed. That alone isn’t enough to alarm me. It’s possible he started to do his homework and then stopped.

But there’s more. There at the foot of the dresser, one lone sock lies on the floor, as if it had been taken out of the drawer in haste and accidentally discarded. Why would Ethan need to pick his socks so quickly that he wouldn’t pick it up?

It could be nothing, just the messy habits of a young boy, yet it compels me to move closer to the dresser and to pull that sock drawer open.

It’s almost empty.

My stomach drops.

Quickly, I check the other drawers.

The laundry is done every day here at the mansion. There is no logical reason for Ethan to be missing over half of his clothes from the drawers.

But if he was gathering clothes, he would need something to put them in…

The books on his bed.

His backpack.

I rush toward the desk, desperately searching for the backpack that should be there hanging on the back of the chair. It’s not there, nor is it underneath the chair or the desk or the bed or in the closet.

“Cara?” Alaric asks, coming closer to me. I must look frantic, there’s fear on his face now too.

“Alaric, I think he’s run away,” I say quickly, fear nearly choking me.

Alaric’s eyes go wide, but he pauses, stunned, for only a moment before he bolts into action, returning into the hallway. I rush to follow him.

Down the stairs, the butler stops him. “I’m sorry, Sir. We can’t find the children anywhere.”

“Alaric!”

“Stay here, Cara,” Alaric says, then yanks open the front door and ducks outside.

“The children,” I tell the butler. “They might have run away!”

He rushes too, following Alaric out of the house.

I hesitate only a moment, knowing the dangers, before I throw caution to the wind and dart outside.

These are my children! They could be in danger. If they left willingly, I might be the only one who can convince them to return!

How could this happen? How could I let it?

Was Ethan truly so unhappy that he would try to run away? And he would take his sister with him?

My heart ached, even as it ran, filled to the brim with adrenaline.

My children. My babies.

I can’t lose them!

As soon as I’m outside, Alaric shouts at me. “Cara!”

I shake my head, arguments already on my tongue. I refuse to be talked out of this search. These are my children, and I’ll be damned if I stay inside not searching for them, even if there is someone out here who wants me dead.

“Over here, Cara!” Alaric calls then, which gives me pause.

He’s not telling me to go inside.

Confused, I look at him. He’s halfway turned to me, waving me closer, as he jogs toward the main gate protecting the house. There, a security guard has a boy by the arm.

Ethan. Oh thank the gods.

I start running, not slowing until I’m much closer. Alaric is already there, speaking with the security guard from the front gate.

“He was trying to scale the wall,” the guard says.

The minute I’m close enough, I drop down onto my knees and pull Ethan into my arms. I’m furious at him, but the relief is much more important at the moment. He’s safe. He’s here.

Thank the gods.

“Geez, Mom…” he says like he’s embarrassed.

He has no idea the danger he was in. The danger his sister was in.

Leaning back, I look him over, making sure he’s okay. His knees are slightly scuffed but he seems otherwise okay.

I glance to his right and left. “Where’s Mia?”

Ethan blinks. “What do you mean? Isn’t she still inside?”

Whatever joy I felt being reunited with Ethan comes crashing down.

Mia isn’t in the house, and she’s not with Ethan.

She’s gone.