***3:47 AM - Blackwood Mansion***
The mansion was silent when they returned, the kind of deep quiet that only existed in the hours between night and morning. Emily's body was exhausted, but her mind was still racing, replaying every moment of the meeting with James.
He'd recognized her. Believed her. Sworn his loyalty again.
It felt like a piece of her past had finally clicked into place, making the impossible slightly less impossible.
Sebastian headed straight to his room, muttering something about setting up encrypted communication channels. But Timothy's hand found Emily's, pulling her gently toward his room instead of hers.
She didn't resist.
His room was dark except for the ambient glow of the city through the windows. Timothy closed the door behind them, and for a moment, they just stood there in the darkness, processing everything that had happened.
"Are you okay?" Timothy asked quietly.
