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My voice sounded too small.

No answer.

I took one cautious step.

Then another.

The study door stood open, just like it did any other day.

“Alaric?”

I knew he wasn’t here. I couldn’t feel his energy. Still, reflex took over.

My hand trembled.

I clenched it into a fist and stepped through the doorway.

The room was exactly the same. Books lined the shelves. The old leather chair sat beside the fire. His desk faced the window overlooking the drive. My focus went to the spot where he’d stood and waved to me when I left.

Nothing looked disturbed.

I let out a slow breath.

You’re freaking yourself out.

Get it together, Nyssa.

I turned to leave.

A flash of red caught the corner of my eye.

I stopped.

Slowly…

And looked back.

Something rested on the polished timber of his desk. Too small to notice from the doorway. Too bright to belong there. My feet carried me closer before I even realized I’d moved.

“No…”

The whisper escaped on its own.

Satin.

Red.

Soft against the dark timber.

Only…

It wasn’t whole.

One clean cut divided it.

My breath caught. I knew instantly what it was. Lily’s ribbon.

The one Alaric had only shown me once. The one he’d held as though it were made of glass. My fingers hovered above it. I didn’t want to touch it. It felt… sacred.