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But someone had.

And it wasn’t Alaric.

My hand trembled as I lifted it.

He’d never do anything like this.

The satin slipped softly through my fingers. The edge was impossibly clean.

My chest tightened.

“Oh, Alaric…”

A floorboard groaned further along the hallway. I froze. The ribbon still clenched in my fist.

Silence.

Then…

Another step.

Slow.

Measured.

Somewhere in the house.

My pulse lurched. Without thinking, I reached for the drawer. It slid open. My hand searched frantically. Files. Pens. Stationery. Nothing else.

The knife…

It wasn’t there. My mouth went dry.

No.

The one Alaric gave me was in my drawer. Exactly where Alaric told me to keep it.

My room.

Now.

I snatched up the book.

The ribbon never left my hand.

Then I hurried into the hallway.

The corridor stretched away before me. Quiet. Too quiet. Every door exactly as it always had been. My gaze lifted… searching—except one. My bedroom door wasn’t closed. It rested open. Just enough. My breath faltered. I knew I’d shut it. I took one slow step. Then another. The opening widened as I approached. My fingers curled tighter around the ribbon.

“Hello?” My voice disappeared. Then quieter. “Cassian?”

No answer.

I reached the doorway.

Pushed gently.

Then stepped inside…