Lyla shot to her feet, a frantic energy driving her straight for the door.
"Get ready, we're leaving. Now!"
"Wait—shouldn't we call Ninth Granduncle back?" Lars shouted after her.
"How?" Lyla didn't slow. "He doesn't carry a phone, you know that. And besides, they're in the shadows and we're out in the open. All we have is speculation. What if he really did go to the Hidden Territory?"
Her words tumbled out as she bounded down the stairs without a glance behind her. Lars hesitated, but she was right. Donovan had never touched high-tech gadgets, let alone a phone. He appeared and disappeared on his own terms, like smoke slipping through your fingers. To try and find him was pointless; he only came to you if he wanted to.
Within minutes, Lyla's car screeched to a stop at the villa entrance. Lars emerged carrying Ambrose Silverwood across his back, sweat dripping from the effort. Lyla hurried to help, lowering Ambrose carefully into the backseat before sliding behind the wheel.
