Ivy left Cassien standing in the empty hall.

Her legs felt weak, but she forced herself to walk straight, steady, like nothing had cracked inside her. She moved through the corridors without speaking to anyone. Guards bowed as she passed. She barely saw them.

She went upstairs.

The kids’ room was quiet.

Too quiet.

Ivy pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside. The smell was familiar. Clean sheets. Soap. The faint scent of their hair still clinging to the pillows. Her chest tightened, but ...