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“No. But we agreed to meet after the challenge.”

Mother’s mouth tightened and her lips turned down at the corners. “I fear she has been taken. Lord Greyson sent an inquiry to me via a servant asking after her. He seemed to think she would be with me.”

“She wasn’t?”

Mother shook her head. “Mela has also disappeared from the nursery.”

“How? I thought there were constant guards.”

“This remains unknown. The nurse tucked all the children into bed yesterday evening and this morning her bed was empty.”

A dawning horror pressed in as I realized the true extent of what this probably meant. An oath fell from my mouth.

“Kent!” my mother admonished me without true heat.

“Sorry, Mother. What about Sicilia? Is she missing too?” I asked. “Or Nerio’s mother? Is anyone else taken?”

Mother shook her head. “I don’t know. Lord Greyson’s messenger didn’t mention anyone else.”

Praying silently that Rue and Mela yet lived, I attempted to calm myself with a slow deep breath.

A knock on the outer door interrupted us. A peek at the clock confirmed my suspicion that time had run out.

I turned to Mother as Raven emerged from my chamber to answer the door. “What about you?”

“What about me?” She frowned up at me. “I am here and safe.”

“Where is your companion?”

She shrugged. “She left to attend to other duties after she helped me dress this morning.”

“Then you must stay here with Raven.”

Raven left the open door and crossed to us. Mother dropped her spell just after he started speaking.

“—here to escort you to the challenge.” His dark eyes flicked from my face to my mother’s. “Is there something wrong?”

“Rue and Mela have disappeared, most likely not by their own consent. Lord Greyson is aware. I can’t begin searching for them until after the challenge.” The admission pained me. “Will you notify your uncle? Also, keep my mother with you for the duration of the challenge. I don’t want more of my family members disappearing.”

Raven’s usually stoic features darkened, and his aura of power tripled. “I will see to it.” He bowed to my mother. “My lady, stay with me. I will guard you with my life.”

Mother snorted softly. “No need to be so dramatic. Save the heroics for finding Rue and Mela.” She turned to me and offered her cheek for kissing, which I dutifully did.

She patted my shoulder. “Go show them what a true-blooded heir looks like.” Then, turning to Raven, she took his arm. “Now, let us go speak to that uncle of yours. Surely he will know where to begin looking for Rue and Mela.”

Satisfied that my mother was well protected, I turned to the armed escort standing outside the sitting room door. It was time to face the moment I had dreaded since my arrival: my destiny.

“My lord.” The leader of the group, judging by the insignia on his shoulder, bowed as I approached. “We have orders to escort you to the testing arena.”

Offering him an answering bow, I said, “Lead on.”

Instead of marching off as I expected, he hesitated. “There is no call to bow to me, my lord.”

“Neither do you have to bow to me. I am no nobleman.”

That brought the fae up short. He straightened his shoulders, brought his head back slightly, and frowned at me. “You aren’t?”

“No.”