Book Seven: Chapter 77

Nobody was home. There was no movement whatsoever within the house. Over the course of an hour, Cyrus watched with immense pleasure as the SoS methodically searched the home from top to bottom. Every door was opened, and every dresser was checked. It was as if nobody had lived there in years.

Darius was staring so hard at the wall that Cyrus wondered if the canvas would somehow tear under the man’s baleful gaze. Darius was particularly interested in having Epsilon team open a closet door after shifting the knob in a certain pattern, as if it would somehow trigger a secret opening. When nothing yielded results, he finally commanded a retreat and waited for his men and the Order to return.

Laurel was one of the first to make it back, and she looked like she was going to be sick. She immediately spoke to Darius in hushed tones, and the man listened with his head tilted toward her. When she finished, he looked away as if deep in thought.

The men of the SoS packed into