Althea had slept well and woke later than usual. Normally, she rose before sunrise, but today the warm rays of the sun touched her face and pulled her awake.

She slowly opened her eyes and turned to the other side of the bed. Empty. A small sting hit her chest, knowing Gavriel didn’t return.

“I wonder where he slept,” she murmured as she got up from Gavriel’s bed.

Last night, she had managed to sneak a quick look around the oak tree, but she found nothing. Fear struck her at the ...