Meanwhile, back in the mansion, Morvienne sat on the edge of her bed, the silence of the room pressing in on her. She remained perfectly still, her ears pricked for the sound of footsteps in the hallway as she waited for him.

She expected Kael to burst through the door, demanding answers and grilling her until her facade cracked or maybe just come in and want to talk, but she expected him.

"There is no way he wouldn't be a little suspicious," she thought, her mind racing.

"But... How was I caught?" she wondered, brow furrowing. "I had been careful, silent. How?"

The realization that he had been standing right...