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I was coming back.

I slipped my phone into my pocket. Picked up The Phantom. Then stopped. Red caught my eye. Lily’s ribbon. The two halves had been placed together on the dresser. They weren’t repaired. They couldn’t be. They were just… together.

I reached for them and stopped before touching.

No.

That wasn’t mine to take.

I carefully lifted the book instead.

The ribbon stayed… with him.

I crossed to the door. My hand settled on the handle. For the first time… I hesitated. Alaric was somewhere in this house. Close. Maybe in the study… or the kitchen. Maybe awake. One conversation away. One door. One goddamn choice. My fingers tightened. Go to him.

The thought came so clearly I almost obeyed.

Walk into whatever room he’s in.

Sit down.

Tell him you’re leaving unless he tells you everything.

Give him one more chance.

I closed my eyes and my throat tightened.

I already had, right?

I’d given him more chances than I could afford.

Over.

And over.

And over again.

I opened my eyes and my hand turned the handle. The hallway waited. I stepped into it and quietly closed the door behind me. Then I stopped. A light burned beneath the door further along the hall.

Alaric.

My heart knew before I did.

I stood there staring at that thin line of gold. Twenty feet. Maybe less. That was all that separated us. My feet moved. One step and then another. I reached the door to his study and stopped. My hand lifted. My knuckles hovered over the wood.

Something inside me screamed.

KNOCK!

My breath stuttered.

For a heartbeat, I imagined it. The door opening and Alaric standing there. My holding The Phantom.

No anger.

No accusations.

Just—