Lily’s POV

Morning light filtered softly through the curtains of Lucian’s house when I heard movement in the hallway. I was already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed in one of his old shirts, bare feet pressed to the cool floor. Sleep had come in broken pieces through the night. Every time I closed my eyes I still saw the living room at home Mom’s face when she told Mia she had heard everything, the way my sister’s expression had cracked, the final sound of the door closing behind our father. The quiet here felt almost unnatural after so many weeks of noise and fear.

Lucian’s mother appeared...