Alistair's POV

The soft click of the door closing behind Freya punctuates the tense silence. For a few moments, I remain seated, eyes locked on that door as if staring hard enough might provide some clarity.

Her scent still lingers faintly in the air, a maddening reminder of her presence. My fingers trail across the edge of the desk, tapping out an uneven, restless beat that fills the stillness. I don’t even realize I’ve been doing it until the sound grows ...