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She smiled. “I do what I can.”

“And Caius?”

“Master Caius is being deployed this morning.”

My smile disappeared.

“What?”

“He received his orders this morning.”

“For how long?”

“It is not yet known.”

“Has he gone already?”

“No.”

The relief was instant, telling me exactly how frightened I’d been at the thought that he might already be gone.

“Do you know when he's leaving?”

“I do not know precisely. I believe preparations are already under way.”

I looked down at the pad on my wrist.

He could have messaged me. I knew he commanded the First Legion, and I understood he sometimes had to leave on short notice, but it would’ve been nice if he’d actually told me. A simple message would’ve sufficed.

And it wasn’t only Caius. Strangers had filled our home, and we needed enough security to fill six residences.

“How long have all these people been here?”

“Some arrived before first light. Others have been arriving throughout the night.”

“And nobody thought to tell me they were coming?”

Eira hesitated. “I expect the masters believed the work could begin without disturbing you.”

That wasn’t the point.

I didn’t expect them to ask my permission every time someone needed to enter our home. Darius was responsible for our security. Alaric was a General. Of course officers would come here sometimes. Leon and Lucien had staff too. I understood all of that.

But this was our home.

“Eira, where are my mates?”

“Master Darius has been overseeing the security arrangements, and Master Leon was with him earlier⁠—”

“I mean, where are they now?”

She blinked at me. “I believe they are all in the office.”

“All five?”

“Yes.”

Good. I headed straight for the office.