The rain had settled into a steady rhythm, soft but constant, tapping against the quiet streets. Cade walked through it at an even pace, the red umbrella above him standing out against the dull gray evening. Water slid off the edges, but the damp still clung to him, seeping through his coat and settling cold against his skin.
He ignored it. His attention was elsewhere.
It had been two days since he last saw her. Two days, and she had disappeared without a trace, and even her scent had vanished from the Ravencrest's territory.
No replies, no calls, nothing. For someone who had stood in front of him so boldly, whom they've seen each other naked and somehow gotten under his skin, she had become impossible to reach.
It annoyed him more than he cared to admit.
His father's words lingered in the back of his mind, quiet but persistent. This wasn't just about interest. He needed access. He needed trust. He needed her.
