The penthouse was unusually quiet without Zoe’s chatter filling the rooms. Chloe lingered in the living room, aimlessly scrolling through her phone, her nerves prickling with that constant, gnawing absence, a month now and still no word from Valerius. She kept telling herself not to care, but her body betrayed her, aching with a hunger she didn’t want to name.

The sudden buzz of the intercom jolted her upright. Heart racing, she crossed to the panel, pressed the button.

“Yes?”

...