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He didn’t have to.

A laugh escaped me. Small and empty. “Right.”

“Nyssa—”

“No.”

I released the handle. “You don’t get to apologize for him.”

His expression hardened. “I’m not.”

“Good.”

I turned away and Ghost followed. Three steps. Always three. A cage. The words came quietly this time. I’d had more goddamn freedom locked in a cell. There was no anger and no disbelief. Just recognition. I walked past the library and the stairs, then stopped.

The study waited at the end of the hallway.

My pulse changed.

The place he hides under the study.

No.

I closed my eyes. I wasn’t doing this. Not because of him. Not because some monster had written words across a book Alaric gave me. Not because Bethany had looked into my eye and whispered⁠—

The truth.

My eyes opened. Ghost waited behind me.

“What?”

His brows pulled together. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re staring.”

“Occupational hazard.”

Despite everything, something almost resembling a smile touched my mouth. Almost. Then disappeared. “Can I go into the study?”

His expression changed.

Tiny.

There.

“What?”

“The study.”

“Of course.”

Too fast.

I stared at him.

Ghost stared back. “Why wouldn’t you be able to?”

I didn’t answer. I started walking. Three steps behind me. Until⁠—