The door didn’t open.
It unmade itself.
One moment it was a solid boundary of carved wood and iron lockwork.
The next, it was simply… wrong. As if the idea of “closed” had stopped applying to it.
Denise felt Liam’s arm tighten around her instantly.
Not pulling her back this time.
Holding her in place.
Like movement itself had become dangerous.
A sound came through the threshold.
Not footsteps.
Not breath.
Something heavier than both.
The mansion responded with a low, strained silence—like the entire structure had just realized it was being read from the inside.
Denise’s voice came out quieter than she intended.
“It’s coming in.”
Liam didn’t answer immediately.
His attention was split now.
Half on her.
Half on whatever was about to arrive.
“That’s the point,” he said fina
