"I'm aware," Cyril said quietly.
"Find the alpha," Charles said. "Now is not the time for him to hide away. He needs to make things right."
"I wish I knew where to even begin looking for him," Cyril admitted. "He shut the mind link down completely."
Charles sighed again, then turned and headed back downstairs. Cyril lingered a moment longer, glancing back toward Sera's door, his chest aching with the knowledge that whatever came next would hurt her.
And hurt her badly.
*****
Eric arrived at the Blackwood estate at midnight.
The grounds were empty now, stripped of voices and grief and obligation. The cars were gone. The chairs stacked neatly in the courtyard.
He walked through the front doors, still shirtless.
The house felt wrong.
Benedict's presence was gone.
He headed for the stairs.
Halfway there, the lights in the living room snapped on.
Eric turned slowly.
Claudia sat in one of the armchairs.
Eric swallowed. "Mum."
"You look like hell."
"I feel worse."
