Riley’s eyes were troubled, brows furrowed, and her lips pressed into a thin line as she approached. She didn’t have to say anything for me to know. I could feel the subtle pull of her emotions, the weight of her worries hanging in the air like a storm ready to break. I wasn’t ready for this, not when my mind was still consumed with thoughts of Reynard and the Hollow.
"Where’s my father?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual, but the tension in it was undeniable.
Her gaze flicked behind me, toward the study, and I could see the concern in her eyes.
I stepped forward, closing the distance between us, and instinctively reached out to take her hand. Her fingers trembled slightly against mine, but I squeezed them gently, offering a measure of reassurance.
"Visiting’s over," I said, my v
