Aria's POV
My legs nearly gave out.
"Elona is gone." Astrid's words echoed over and over in my head until they became meaningless noise.
"What do you mean gone?" I grabbed her shoulders. "What happened?"
She was trembling so violently her wolf aura was spilling into the air. "I... I only looked away for a second."
"Astrid!"
She squeezed her eyes shut. "You went to the restroom. Elona wanted pictures with me." Her voice cracked. "So we took selfies."
She showed me her phone with shaking hands. The last photo showed Elona grinning brightly, rabbit ears on her head, clutching a giant pink balloon.
My throat tightened.
Astrid swallowed hard. "Then the parade started."
I looked toward the main avenue. Music still blasted from giant speakers. Performers in colorful costumes danced thro
