The Missing Hours

“Sweetheart.”

Gideon immediately stepped forward.

“Where have you been?”

The question caused everyone in the room to focus on Bianca.

For a brief moment, she seemed caught off guard by the number of people still gathered in the dining hall. Then, almost instinctively, her gaze drifted toward Lyra before quickly moving away again.

“I was out,” she answered.

The response came a little too quic