Darius's POV
After the argument, Sera disappeared.
At first I assumed she needed space. An hour, maybe two. But noon came, and she still hadn’t returned.
I went to the healer.
“Was she with you?”
“No,” he said. “Haven’t seen her since morning. I haven’t changed her bandage today.”
A cold knot twisted in my stomach. I walked the hallways—kitchen, storage, guardroom, parapet tower. Everywhere the same answer:
“We haven’t seen her.”
Cassian understood immediately, didn’t waste time with questions.
“Do we seal the gates?”
“No. No panic.” My voice was too sharp. “Quiet search. Every level. If anyone asks—say we’re doing inventory.”
“Scouts to the rooftops, guards on servant paths,” he continued smoothly. “The tunnels?”
“Check every grate. All keys return to me.”
My inner wolf strai
