The tires hummed steady against the asphalt, the pines thinning into long stretches of highway. Dawn had burned itself into morning, and now sunlight spilled low across the dashboard. Alaric’s phone buzzed again, rattling against the console.
For the third—maybe fourth—time.
I glanced sideways at him. His hands were relaxed on the wheel, but his jaw worked as though he were chewing back words he didn’t want to say. The phone buzzed again.
“Who is that?” I asked.
“No one,” he said, almost teasing, like he knew exactly how that answer would needle me.
I narrowed my eyes. “Oh, come on. Who?”
Before he could answer, the phone went off again. He finally sighed, plucking it up with one hand and swiping to answer.
“Hello?” His voice was calm, but the way his eyebrows drew together told me
