We didn’t talk on the ride up the driveway. The closer we got to the mansion, the heavier everything felt. Not like dread, exactly—more like standing on the edge of a really high cliff and not knowing if you’re about to fall or fly. My stomach was doing backflips either way.
Most of my stuff was still at Aunt Anya’s, but that didn’t seem to matter. Apparently, I was moving back into the mansion whether I was ready or not.
The moment we pulled up, I could feel it. That weird buzzing under my skin. Like the house itself knew I was back. Like the walls were watching.
Ethan parked without a word. I opened the door before he could offer, mostly because if I didn’t move, I’d probably stay frozen in the car forever.
The mansion looked exactly the same as the last time I was here—and I appreci
