Marcus POV
The crunch of gravel under our boots was the only sound between us as we approached the estate gates. Mitchell walked at my side, her hand tucked into mine. It was meant to be a peaceful visit, a way to ease tensions after the move, but as we drew closer, the air grew heavy with unease.
I stopped abruptly, my eyes narrowing. The gates were wide open, and the guards stationed there were nowhere to be seen.
Mitchell’s grip tightened. “Something’s wrong,” she said, her voice low but steady.
The scent of anger and destruction reached me before the noise did—the sharp crack of wood splintering, followed by the distant crash of something heavy. My heart sank as we hurried through the gates and onto the estate grounds.
The Queen Mother’s new home—a pristine estate with sprawling g
