eaked beneath her feet as Ivy descended into the dim, spice-scented kitchen. A single light abo

. Celeste leaned against the counter, scrolling through

gh," Elias muttered

Ivy lied gently. She slid in

eyes. "Homework or bro

in a tone that was b

subtle but present-Elias's hands clenching and unclenching besi

," Ivy said softly

ass bottle across the table without looking at her. His

amiliar with the bitter aftertaste by now. It di

ate, Elias barely moved, and Ivy, as usual, fe

bruptly, flipping her black curls behind

" Elias replied, stil

in her steps, the soft thud of her heels echoing up the s

ask what th

't want

r food. "Good night," she murmured to the ro

dreams were da

e and not entirely visible. Her skin burned, her heart raced, and somewhere behin

Ivy... w

ght in bed, dre

Morning

rough the house. "YOU CALL

from her eyes, draggin

DON'T COME BACK I

lway, standing in her pajamas,

ds scrambled. Ivy leaned against the doorway

dn't n

gone. Of cou

ias was howling at the help like they'd misplaced hi

e had

everything. Ivy could already hear her saying it w

n. She didn't even fee

ickly, and headed down

She drank it without hesitation, grabbed her bag,

eterinary Cen

with a frown. "Yo

d. "Rough

er. "You want coffee? Or

intly. "The k

nges, prepping treatment trays. Her mind quieted with

desk. We've g

n

leaned against the counter, trying

ning?" she asked

ss re

. "Client's here. Act

bove the d

the entrance-and

at, perfectly tailored, with matching gloves he removed finger by finger. His

co

, his voice smooth but clipped

covering. "We'll take him

zed. Wo

she thought. "Roo

off about him. The way he looked at the wall

. "Set him down her

t Ivy approached, it snapped its head up. Not thre

s his

ho

urse

e didn't flinch. In fact, he leaned forward and sni

around any

N

is first v

es

tra

N

wer came

e was watching her-not t

raeview, are you?"

N

sit

ng thr

head in. "Every

Ivy said

straightened his coat with preci

pered, "That guy's giv

. "I was going to say

Ghost, who had gone

he touched his chest, she sw

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