*Erik POV*
The emptiness next to me was what woke me up. I opened my eyes to find the fire had died and Vanessa was gone. Panicked, I jumped up, grabbed my sword, and rushed over to my soldiers.
“Mera, where is Lady Vanessa?” I demanded.
Mera stood at attention with a look of guilt. “I am sorry, my prince. The lady insisted on wandering off and left before any of us could stop her. We wanted to go after her but were afraid to leave you unprotected with only a few guards.”
“Never mind me, let us find her quickly. We do not know if Falcon has spies lurking around this area, or if there are bandits nearby.”
I knew that I should not be as panicked as I was, Vanessa knew these grounds better than anyone. But she was in a vulnerable state; seeing the place she had grown up in destroyed and all the people she loved dead … I dared not think.
Suddenly, a stark whistling sound pierced the night air.
