except for the occasional creak of the old beams above Mira's room. Somewhere deep within the hou
eyes scanning the Thornwick family ledgers once
ing about Gre
estate he now owned. Most heirs, even distant ones, would at least feign interest in old portraits or
glance when he first entered
her more th
eeves rolled, leaning against the cold stone wall. He was
p early,"
e replied, push
hesitated, then adde
yebrow. "You on
d, he looked at me like... like he
ms. "That would m
. "Gregor's been abr
story. I asked where he'd spent most of the past decade he
d tightening around
from the archive room. Ledgers. Letters.
em, frowning. Then
e him anyway. When the Hollow Guest re
e muttered. "Th
ee. Aster Thornwick. Born 1831,
e Hollow Guest. Or maybe he found some
wing. "You said once you thought
's find where it
n the old stables, and together, they pried the hinges loose. The hall beyond was black with as
beams, the remains of what was once the drawing sal
rivate study," Mira said, pointi
hough blackened-still stood. Behind a fallen bookcase, Le
that?"
pulled it open. A wooden s
ke it," Mir
now it's worth se
as a narrow cellar-stone walls, low ceiling. And at its center: a desk, untouched
ingle book. Open. I
page. Inside were records-no
Expenses: 1849.' Look-this isn't
e back. There, wr
eritance denied. I did as I was told,
oze. "
d. "That's Marin T
between them
mother saw Aster. Knew what they did to h
to the back wall, breathing throu
se him. They made
ther of them spoke
r in the old library, the cell
per," Leo finally said. "Like a kn
him. "What do y
ry person they tried to erase. Aster.
d t
Burn the Thornwick
wly. "Then let'
n-thunder shaking the walls,
tching the firelight flicker below. He held a lette
t of sight in the shadows. Her eyes fixed not on Gregor but
quiet the wind almo
this on us.
n she w