Ella was gone for six hours before they found the cup.

Hazel didn't sleep. She sat in Luna room with mother's box open, recipe in lap, Aurella asleep on furs, Alaric pacing by fire, ledger burning in fireplace now because Alaric said he didn't want to look at it anymore.

Dominic locked every door. Guards at every window. Packhouse searched top to bottom. No Ella. No maid who made tea.

Greta said, "She knows hidden ways. Vincent built them when he was Beta. Old escape tunnels from war."

Alaric said nothing. Just kept touching Hazel's mark like checking it was still there.

At midnight, Lucia knocked.

"Alpha, Luna's tea for...