When Roxy woke the next morning, the space beside her in the massive, crimson-draped bed was completely empty and bone-chillingly cold. Kaelen had not slept in the master bedroom last night.
He had simply established his boundary and removed his presence, leaving Roxy to stare at the empty pillows with a hollow, aching confusion settling deep into her chest.
When she finally descended the grand staircase later that morning, the atmosphere in the Manor was incredibly tense.
Kaelen was already awake and was sitting at the heavy mahogany table in the central parlor, meticulously cleaning his claws. His posture was perfectly straight, his icy blue eyes were completely focused on the steel blade.
Roxy gulped.
"Good morning, Kaelen," Roxy murmured softly, adjusting her hold on Little Fedor as she walked past him toward the kitchens.
"Good morning, Matriarch," Kaelen replied instantly.
