Page 81 of Sage Haven
But it was good, and I let it fill me. Let it drown out the gnawing ache in my chest.
Until I felt it.
The shift.
A presence.
Heavy and watching.
I turned before I could think and saw someone I wasn’t expecting.
Castor.
Standing just a few feet away.
His gaze locked onto mine like a tether snapping tight between us.
Something inside me stilled.
No longer swaying to the music.
No longer breathing easy.
“Castor?” I forced his name out past the lump rising in my throat, before continuing, “Sam went to get drinks. I thought you were…aren’t you supposed to be working?”
I tried for casual, but the words faltered.
His expression didn’t soften.
If anything, it hardened, as he answered, “I am.”
His tone was low, measured and too careful.
Almost…regretful.
My stomach twisted as I realized that something was wrong.Very wrong.
“…Do you work here?” I asked slowly, a tremor sneaking into my voice.
His expression didn’t change. “Not for the House of Music.”
Six words.
And the floor vanished beneath my feet.
“What does that mean?” I demanded, though my body already knew the answer.
Every cell screaming in warning.
Run.
But I didn’t move fast enough.
He did.
One second, he was in front of me.
The next, he was behind.
