“She’s my true mate.”
“I get it. Believe me, I do. I won’t tell Lana about your detour. You brought Robin back safe and sound. That’s what matters. For now. As long as you don’t intend to break another rule.”
“It was spur of the moment. Robin wanted to go for a walk. The gardens you have here … They’re too small. It’s not good enough. She needs more outdoor space to walk around in.”
Owen sighs. “Then I’m sure you’ll make sure you buy a house with a big garden whenever you’ve been approved to claim her and become her guardian. Until then …”
He doesn’t need to finish. I know what he’s saying.
We both know I’ll never be allowed back if I break one more rule.
They take Robin’s security seriously, and I don’t have an issue with that.
“There’s a trail of footprints that make a rough path from the hole that was cut in the fence to the area around this house. They get too hard to follow once you get within a few feet of the house.”
I look around until I can see the closest set, and then I move toward them, being careful not to obscure their imprints.
“Over here,” I start, looking up to find Owen already at my side.
He crouches down and takes out his phone, taking a picture of the clearest print.
“I assume you’ve already tried to get into the house?” Owen asks.
“All the doors and windows are locked.”
“Hence the rock,” he murmurs.
All I can do is shrug in response.
He moves up the steps to the porch, heading straight for the front door.
Knocking and stepping back, he waits.
I don’t hold my breath.
He moves back to the door and leans in.
A few seconds later, the door opens a crack.
Turning back to me, Owen nods toward the door.
“Get up here. If someone’s inside, we’re going to find him.”
Chapter Sixty-Four
Robin
Being alone in my suite after spending the day with Falcon is a new kind of torture. The silence I’m left trapped in feels suffocating. The TV only brings empty noise when I turn it on. I switch it off again as I try to find some way to occupy myself that doesn’t feel pointless.
If this is what it’s like to be apart from my newly discovered true mate, then the sooner we claim each other, the better.
My thoughts drift back to our time in the forest, and I can’t help wishing I’d thrown caution to the wind.
If only he’d marked me …
If only I’d let him claim me …
The knock on my door is faint enough that I wonder if I really heard it.
