Tobias POV
A sharp knock jolted me from sleep. I blinked against the morning light spilling in through the narrow window and reached for my phone—7:30 a.m. Not exactly a lie-in, but I’d had worse.
“Good morning, sir,” said a soft voice as the door creaked open. A young man entered, balancing a wooden tray. He offered a respectful bow before setting the tray on the bedside table and vanishing without another word.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my face. The Priory’s idea of breakfast was humble—porridge and black coffee, no sugar, no milk. The scent did nothing to improve my mood.
But that wasn’t what bothered me.
I hadn’t dreamt of Lila.
For the first time in a while, my night had been empty. No dreams. No clearing. No soft skin, warm laughter, or whispered questions. It was like she'd van
