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The question stayed with me as I walked into the bathroom and stepped beneath the shower. Not Vivienne. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t trust her to stay neutral. She knew what I’d survived. She’d do whatever she had to keep me safe. Even if that meant taking away my chance to find the truth for myself.

I tipped my head back and let the warmth wash over me. London. He’d know exactly what I needed. I was certain he knew everything. The memory of our first meeting surfaced. The collision between London and Alaric. The way London had stepped aside without hesitation.

That told me everything.

I thought London was the most powerful and dangerous man I’d ever met.

And yet…

In a single heartbeat, he’d yielded to Alaric.

A shiver coursed through me despite the heat of the water.

So if not London… then who?

Someone who knew what I needed.

But someone kind enough to tell me the truth.

No matter how terrifying that truth might be.

Kind eyes came back to me.

Eyes that never stopped watching.

Watching people.

Watching threats.

Guild.

Guild would tell me.

At least enough for me to understand the man I’d fallen for.

I washed.

Rinsed.

Letting the decision settle before I turned off the taps and stepped out.

I dried.

Dressed.

And with every movement, I became more certain. I straightened the bed. Ran a brush through my hair. Grabbed my jacket. One call. That’s all it’d take. After that…

There’d be no going back.

I stood at the window and looked out across the estate. It was quiet. No storm. No sunshine. Just the strange stillness that settled over the world before everything changed.

And it would change. Movement came from the corner of my eye as a car drove along the driveway and into the estate. I turned and strode for the door, then along the hallway.

The cool morning air greeted me as I stepped through the front door and descended the stone steps. The taxi waited exactly where I’d asked. I climbed inside. The sharp scent of coffee and worn leather settled around me as the driver pulled away from the curb.

The taxi rolled slowly down the drive. I looked back. He stood at the study window. Watching me. His expression softened. Slowly… he lifted his hand.

I held his gaze until the trees swallowed him.