That night, Alaric returned past midnight.
The walls of the palace felt cold, the winter season was here. Daphne wore a shawl, sat on the couch and eventually fell into a light sleep due to exhaustion.
When the door opened, the sound startled her awake. She lifted her head instantly.
"Ric?" she said, pushing herself up. "You're back so late. I was worried."
He didn't answer.
He just looked at her.
The silence made her shift, her fingers tightened around the edge of her shawl. His gaze was intense, too intense.
"Ric?" she tried again. "I… I went to your study earlier. Marcus wouldn't let me in. That was strange."
He said nothing.
Her heart began to beat faster. "Ric?"
He exhaled slowly, clearly tired of the conversation before it even began.
"Marcus was acting on my command."
The words landed like a slap. She stared at him. "Your… command?"
He didn't look away. "I told him not to let anyone in."
Anyone.
