Dawn had not yet broken when Shawn stirred the morning after the binding. Quinn was still asleep in his arms, and a quiet smile touched his mouth; at last he had claimed the heart of his chosen mate.
"Shawn!" The steward's urgent knocks shattered the quiet. "We've got a problem!"
Frowning, Shawn threw on a robe and opened the door. The steward, sweating profusely, blurted, "Leah's carriage—it was empty!"
"What?" Shawn's eyes widened. He shoved past the steward, sprinting to the side wing.
Inside the bridal chamber, the ceremonial headdress and robes lay in perfect order on the bed, yet the bride had vanished. Preoccupied with Quinn the night before, he had failed to notice that no one had stepped into this room.
"Shawn…" Quinn trailed after him, wrapping a shawl around herself. "Maybe
