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One small nod. “Exactly.” He waited. “This is real. Which means whoever sent it wants you to believe something.”

“What?”

He met my gaze. “That depends on what they chose not to show you.”

“What was it, Guild? What didn’t they show me?”

He rose slowly. “Don’t ask me. Ask Alaric.”

31

ALARIC

The estate didn’t look the same. It wasn’t the sky. Or the trees. Or the old stone beneath my feet. Everything was exactly as it’d been yesterday. Yet something had shifted. Something I couldn’t name.

I stood at the study window a moment longer before finally turning away.

The last place I’d seen her.

I crossed the hallway without thinking. Stopped outside her bedroom door.

Silence.

My hand hovered over the handle.

Then fell away.

No.

I’d promised.

She asked for space.

I’d give it to her.

Even if it was tearing me apart.

I made my way back through the house. Mrs. Reid looked up from the kitchen as I walked in.

“Morning.”

I nodded once.

Coffee was already waiting. She poured it without asking. I wrapped my hands around the mug but didn’t drink it. There was no second cup today. No tea. No… purpose.

“Has Nyssa come down?” She asked.

I stared at the mug and shook my head. “She won’t be joining us this morning.”

“Oh?” She turned to me. “Has she eaten already?”

I stilled. “No.”

The word came quieter than I’d intended. Mrs. Reid studied me for a long moment. Then, without another mug.

Habit.

Mine too.