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