Though Emily couldn't get the weight that had settled in her chest, the days after Dominic's detention should have felt like a liberation. Though the world within her seemed different, the world outside her window appeared normal—bright, serene. Victoria's return stayed with her like a ghost she could not drive out.
She had not told James yet. She couldn't bring herself to go back to that moment when Victoria's chilly voice had crept through the darkness, reminding Emily that Dominic wasn't the only hazard. Victoria's presence brought with it an aura of inevitability, like the quiet yet heavy with fear moment before a storm.
Perched at the kitchen table, Emily gazed blankly at the hot cup of tea before her. She had hardly touched chamomile, and its aroma did not help her to relax her s
