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I made my way down the hallway. The silence was loud today. Too loud. Pipes groaned overhead. Rain peppered the windows. I headed into the library. It was empty. The kitchen maybe? Someone had to be here. I walked along the hall toward the front of the house and then left.

“Mrs. Reid?” I called out and stepped into the kitchen.

But the place was empty.

The dish towel folded neatly and hung over the edge of the sink. The air was cold here. Like no life existed. None that’d been here today at least. I grabbed some food, an apple and a bottle of water. Then headed to the one place I didn’t want to go.

To the study.

His study.

My footsteps echoed.

I didn’t like it.

Not the sound.

Not the emptiness.

If Mrs. Reid was here at least…

I thought of that. If she was here, would I feel different?

I lifted my gaze to the study door.

No.

I don’t think I would.

I stopped at the entrance and stared at the desk. A coffee cup sat there. I moved closer, lifting it. Remnants of Alaric’s black coffee still sat on the bottom. He’d been here. Just not anymore. The silence of the house had an origin now. Him.

I traced the edge of the cup and placed it back down. A report sat open on his desk. Waiting. I looked at it. Then looked away. Was it the reason he wasn’t here? Was he meeting London… or Guild? I could open it. Read what was so important. But the moment the thought rose I shut it down.

No.

I wouldn’t do that.

I wouldn’t invade his space like that.

Maybe before I would’ve.

But not now.

Now it felt… invasive.

It wasn’t answers I wanted.

It was him.

This is how you kill a man.

That ache rose with the words.

I exhaled and turned around. The quiet closed in. I wasn’t used to this. Wasn’t used to… silence. My home came flooding back. Bethany. Melantha, all the others screaming, crying. Someone was always throwing a fit. I had purpose there. I had noise.

But I also had loneliness.

Just one not like this.