The first thing Liora noticed was the silence.
Not the silence of an empty room.
The silence inside herself.
The restless heat that had lingered over the past few days had finally disappeared, leaving behind an unfamiliar sense of peace.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Golden morning light spilled through the curtains, bathing the bedroom in a warm glow.
For several moments, she simply lay there.
Listening.
The distant rustle of leaves outside.
The ticking of the antique clock across the room.
Footsteps somewhere down the hallway.
Mrs. Agnes.
She could recognize them now without even seeing her.
It still amazed her.
The bond had changed something inside her.
Not just emotionally...
Physically.
Her hearing had sharpened.
Her instincts had become impossible to ignore.
She clos
