(GRIFFIN)
Three days later, I sit in my private study with Locke, Corrine, and Erik. Maps and reports cover the table between us, but my mind is elsewhere, with Maya, recovering in the royal chambers now, under the watchful eyes of the palace healers.
"Nobody has been able to locate Mathew," Erik says, breaking the tense silence. "It's like he vanished."
"He's still out there," I growl, the thought making my wolf pace restlessly. "Planning something."
"We'll find him," Locke assures me, his voice firm. The king of the North has been surprisingly supportive since arriving with Corrine after hearing the news. "My scouts are searching within our borders. If he fled to the North, we'll find him."
Corrine leans forward, her dark eyes concerned. "How is Maya? Jerry says she's stabilizing, but..." She trails off, clearly worried about her friend.
"She's..." I struggle to find the words. "She's changing. Adapting. Of all the things I expected when I marked her, this wasn't it."
