Back in her own room, Austin picked up her phone out of habit.
Her thumb hovered over the screen, refreshing her messages even though she knew there'd be nothing new.
[Still no message from Eliot tonight.]
Her heart dipped a little.
She stared at the screen for a moment, then set it down on her nightstand.
She let out a quiet sigh, the kind that carried more weight than sound.
"Maybe he's just tired... or maybe Kaius kept him busy again," she muttered to herself, trying to make peace with the silence.
Still, that little empty space in her inbox felt heavier than it should.
The light in her room stayed on until nearly 2 a.m.
She was at her desk, sketching out ideas for Sofia's wedding dress.
Her sketchpad was open, already filled with half-drawn silhouettes a
