Seth and Danielle stepped back into the parlor. As they entered, Emory’s smile stretched wide, his eyes lighting up with the warmth of an old friend.
"Shall we head to the dining room then?" Emory asked, his voice carrying the easy cadence of someone who had made this invitation a thousand times before.
As if on cue, the man from earlier appeared in the doorway, a silent, graceful presence. He nodded to Emory before gesturing to the door. "This way," he said, his tone smooth and respectful.
Christina took a step closer to Danielle. Without a word, she handed her the crumpled piece of paper. The prophecy. Danielle barely glanced at it before shoving it into her pocket. She didn’t want to deal with it.
Danielle followed Seth, her nerves still humming from the sense of discomfort she'd fe
