"Excuse me—did you see three little children? One with blue hair, one tiny rock baby, one with seven tails—?"
The woman shook her head kindly. "No dear, I only saw a ghost boy spinning earlier."
Alina's heart clenched so tight she could barely breathe. This is my fault. I should have kept them together. I should have held their hands. What if they are scared? What if they are lost? What if something happened?
Behind her, Boo began trembling. Drake hugged him instinctively, both looking terrified. Luna bit her lip, her small hands tightening at her sides. Sable clutched his new doll to his chest, frozen in fear.
And in the middle of that growing panic stood Dante.
He did not even flinch. He did not rush or shout. He simply stepped forward with a quiet, controlled stillness that made the water around him seem to settle. His expression turned cold and focused.
Alina did not even notice when he moved past her. She was already speaking desperately to another shopkeeper.
