196. The Second Time He LosesRoman

The silence answers him.

At first, Roman doesn’t question it.

He stands just inside the villa, the scent of food still warm in the air, still alive enough to convince him that she must be here, somewhere. The house feels occupied. Lived in. Touched.

“Nova?”

His voice carries further this time, echoing softly against walls that remember it too well.

Nothing.

He takes a few steps forward, his heartbeat beginning to shift, not faster, not yet, but sharper. ...