"Carlos!" Ana called, her voice echoing through the vast, eerily quiet corridors of the castle. She adjusted her flowing gown, frustration creasing her brow as her bare feet padded against the cold stone floors.
"Carlos! Where did this boy go?"
Her tone carried a mix of exasperation and worry. It wasn’t the first time her two-year-old had disappeared, but the unsettling silence in the castle made her stomach churn.
From the grand staircase, a deep yawn followed. "What's wrong, babe?" Daemon's voice drawled, lazy yet edged with curiosity. He leaned against the railing, his dark hair tousled, his crimson eyes half-lidded from just waking up.
Ana spun around to face him, her hands on her hips. "I can't find Carlos!" she snapped, pacing in circles like a caged lioness. "I checked his
