The silence that fell over the inner hall was heavy and suffocating, a vacuum left by the sudden departure of the two brothers.

Freya felt the panic surge through her, a cold, tightening knot in her chest. She couldn't breathe. Her fingers dug into Samantha's hand, seeking an anchor, and she felt the gentle, reassuring rub in return.

“It’s okay, Freya. We’ll go to the room. Just leave them for a while,” Samantha whispered, her gaze sweeping the tense hall.

Xavier and Theodore, ...