Raven Blackwood’s POV:

Same Afternoon:

Valerie was gone.

After the meeting with the Serpent group, I came straight to the mansion. But I didn’t see her anywhere. I looked for her through her room, my room, the living room, the kitchen, the library, and the pool. But she wasn’t anywhere.

My heart beat wildly against my ribs. I couldn’t believe that I had merely left here for a few hours, and she was gone. Gone. Literally Gone!

I stood still in the middle of the living room, my chest ...