I couldn't help but ask her directly. "What are you doing here?"

"I was meeting Blair Balfour," Tiffany replied in a hushed tone. "I was hoping she could help me find Ryker." Her expression turned sad and I felt bad for her.

While I'd been away for two years, I'd detached myself from everyone I knew, and that included Ryker's big sister. I'd heard a rumor about Tiffany seeking witches and asking them to help her find her brother but every witch in the East had turned her down. Frankly, they wouldn't want to be involved with wolves' business. Deidre had once told me that the other two packs: the Erebus and the Night Walkers could assume that the witches were siding with the Ethereal should they lend a hand.

"How's it?" I asked, holding her hand. "Did she say yes?"

Tiffany shook her head. "No." She dropped her gaze and looked at our entwined fingers before looking up again to meet my eyes. Tears were brimming in her gorgeous eyes. "She turned me down just like everyone else." Then as if she'd just realized something, she blinked. Her other hand went to hold mine. "You're a sorceress too. Can you do it?"

In theory, I could. "Yes, but, Tiff, what good will that bring if he still has the disease?" I tilted my eyes and looking deep into her eyes, I could see her hope crashing down which broke my heart.

"Of course you're right but-" She sucked a deep breath as if trying to calm herself down. "I just need to know that he's okay, Xyrra. I can't just sit down at my home while my little brother is god knows where. I can't eat knowing that he might be starving. I can't rest knowing that he could be sleeping in the streets or out in the woods." One tear slipped out of her eye and she quickly wiped it with her forefinger. "It's driving me insane, Xyrra. So please. Even if I couldn't see him, at least tell me if he's alright. If he eats well."

Watching her like this, I felt incredibly bad especially since I knew precisely how she felt. The first spell that I'd learned was the tracking spell. I'd mastered it during the first month of my training with Deidre and not only could I tell the location, but I could also see their surrounding area. And during the last two years, I'd stolen moments to check on Ryker. The last time I'd checked was last month and he was in a small town in France. He must be in his wolf form because all I could see was woods. I couldn't check on him too often lest Deidre found out. It was a good thing that the second thing I'd learned was the masking runes to prevent other witches from tracing what spell I had cast.

"He is alright," I told Tiffany and gave her a reassuring smile. "I tracked him last month. He was in France."

"Can I see him?" There was a hopeful note in her tone.

"I don't think it works that way but we can try." I looked around and noticed that the receptionist was eyeing me like a hawk. "Not here."

"Yes, of course. Maybe we could go to my family townhouse?" Tiffany was still holding my hand as we walked out of the building.

"Sure," I drawled, although I wasn't entirely sure whether going to Ryker's family's house was a good idea. I pulled out my phone, then unlocked it and passed it to Tiffany. "Can you key in the address? I'll be right there."

"Or you can come with me. My son Draven is driving me around while I am there." She blinked, still holding my phone. "Where do you stay in London?"

"I, um, haven't figured that out but I should be able to find a place somewhere." I was hoping I'd find Blair and get her to agree to accept me as her apprentice thus living with her. Either that or I could book a hotel or something. I'd brought all the money I'd made from working at the cafe and if that wasn't enough then at least I had the Mastercard that Dmitry had insisted I carry around.

"Nonsense. You should stay with me. We have tons of empty rooms in the house anyway." Then as if she was afraid that I was feeling uncomfortable having to meet her family, she added, "Oh, you don't have to worry. My parents are in the countryside. They went to Oxford after my mum ranting about how noisy London is. It's only Draven and me at the house. Plus it's big enough that you won't have to cross paths with me all the time." Tiffany winked.

"Oh, no, I wouldn't mind crossing paths with you." I felt slightly bad. "I enjoy being in your company. I just don't want to impose any inconvenience on you and your family."

"Don't worry, you won't."

She was about to give me back my phone but I told her to key in the address nonetheless. "I came here with my bike."

Tiffany gasped. "As in your motorcycle?"

"Yes," I replied as I tried to remember whether Tiffany had seen my motorcycle before when she'd visited us a few months ago.

"Goodness. Please be careful with that. London's traffic can be crazy sometimes." She looked down and started typing her address before handing the phone back to me. "It's not that far from here. Maybe you can tail us? Would that be easier than if you have to look at the map while you're on that," she took a brief pause, "thing."

"Yeah, I think that'll be great. Do you mind if I get my bike here or where should I meet you?"

"Here, perhaps?" Tiffany pointed at the black Maserati only a few feet away from us. "That's my son's car. He's waiting inside while trying to get his call answered." She leaned forward, a wicked smile was on her lips. "I think he's having trouble with a certain young lady. From what I heard from my daughter Clarabelle, he slept with a girl who has been having a massive crush on Declan. Oh, Declan is Draven's twin brother. Gosh, we haven't caught up in a spell, have we? Two years." She heaved a small sigh. "I'm sorry for chattering like a bumbling baboon. Ryker always tells me that once I talk about my children, it'll take an earthquake to get me to stop." Sadness flashed in her eyes when she mentioned Ryker but she quickly shook her head. "I shall wait for you in the car, yes?"

"Yes, I'll get my bike now."

Tiffany gave me one last smile before walking toward the black Maserati. I shoved my phone into my satchel and held my key instead.

Twenty-five minutes later, we arrived at a huge townhouse in the heart of London. Seeing how big their so-called townhouse was made me realize that Ryker's family, the Cromwell, was perhaps, beside one of the richest families in all of Britain, also an important family. I parked my bike in their spacious garage next to the black Maserati.

Tiffany got out of the car almost as soon as it stopped moving. "Xyrra, are you alright?"

If someone else heard the worried tone in her voice, they might think I'd just survived a car crash or something. In a way, she reminded me of Dmitry who always warned me to be careful and called my motorcycle 'a piece of metal'.

"It's alright, Tiff, I'm fine. I've been riding my bike for five years now." I carefully placed my helmet on top of the leather seat.

A handsome man with dark wavy hair got out of the car and tossed the key to a waiting butler then turned to Tiffany. "Mum, I'll be in my office. Javier called. I think there's an issue with the construction in Washington. I might have to go there tomorrow or the day after."

Tiffany sighed, rolling her eyes. "Before you go anywhere, let me introduce you to Xyrra Ashcroft. She's your uncle's mate." She waved her hand at me and gave me an apologetic smile.

Only when his mother pointed out my existence, did the man turn around to face me. His deep blue eyes regarded me with curiosity but his manners came before anything else as he moved forward and offered me his hand. "My apologies. Draven Summers. You can call me Draven and I won't tell you my middle name because I'm afraid it'll scare you."

His last sentence earned him a nudge on the ribs from Tiffany. "You should feel lucky that you have creative parents so your name isn't so commonly used."

"Perhaps you should try asking Ros how it feels to have a name such as Equinox as his middle name." Draven gave his mother such a sweet smile but judging from the tone of his voice, he might as well be giving her an ultimate eye roll. "Although yes," he drawled, "you are absolutely right, Mother, I am truly grateful that at least my first name is a classic and not Inaros." He turned to me and shrugged his shoulders. "It truly sucks to be my third brother."

Tiffany, albeit tiny and shorter than his son, was able to pull Draven's ear and dragged him inside. "Come along, Xyrra. Don't mind my son. I have to show you the letters that Ryker sent me."

I frowned and muttered to myself, "Letters?"

Dear Readers, to rectify previous info, Ryker's POV will start on Chapter 12. Apologies for the error (this author is in mid of writing 3rd book hence often forgetting the chapter number lol)