The morning light crept through the curtains slowly, pale and gray. I had not moved from Marcus's side all night. His bandaged hand still rested on mine, and his breathing had finally evened out around dawn. The bruise on his jaw had deepened to a dark purple, but the bleeding had stopped. He looked younger in sleep. Less haunted.
I slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake him. My robe was wrinkled, my hair a mess. I needed coffee. I needed to think. Last night had cracked something open inside me, and I was still figuring out what that meant.
Anna was already in the hallway when I opened the door. She was walking fast, her expression tight.
"Miss Miller. Mr. Julian is here. He is in the library with your father. He says it is urgent. He says he found something."
I frowned. Ju
