Vivienne’s POV

I keep a glossy magazine open on my lap, feigning interest as Jareth and Briony walk through the door with their grocery bags. My attention, however, is fixed on them—specifically the charged energy surrounding them. It’s subtle but undeniable, an unsettling blend of exhilaration and something akin to guilt. The sight stirs an uncomfortable knot in my stomach.

“How was shopping?” I ask lightly, masking my growing suspicion beneath a casual ...