Denise woke before sunrise.
Not because she was rested.
Because something was wrong with the air.
The mansion no longer felt like a structure.
It felt like a presence breathing around her.
Slow.
Measured.
Aware.
She sat up in bed and immediately noticed it—
The silence wasn’t empty.
It was waiting.
A soft knock came at her door.
Once.
Then again.
Too controlled to be staff.
Denise didn’t answer.
The door opened anyway.
Liam stood there.
But not the version she was used to.
He looked… wrong.
Not injured.
Not weak.
Restrained in a way that felt physical.
Like something inside him was pressing outward against his skin.
“Get away from the windows,” he said.
Denise frowned.
“Good morning to you too.”
He didn’t react to her tone.
That was new.
He stepped inside, clos
