Benedict POV
"He is gone, Leah."
The four words hit me like a physical blow, stripping the air clean out of my lungs before I could even take a step into the grand foyer.
Charlotte stood by the heavy front doors, her hands trembling so hard that the silver key ring in her palm kept clinking against the wood. Her face was entirely drained of color, her eyes wide with a frantic, uncharacteristic terror that sent a surge of ice straight through my veins.
"What do you mean he is gone?" I shouted, my voice cracking sharp across the empty hall. "I left Ethan in the playroom with Olivar ten minutes ago!"
"Olivar is down," Charlotte choked out, her voice breaking as she pointed a shaking finger toward the east corridor. "Someone used shadow-dust, Leah. It took out three enforcers in seconds.
