They left the dining room together. No one spoke as they walked, not Charles, not any of the staff lingering at a distance. The house seemed to understand when to quiet itself, when to pull back and let certain moments exist on their own. Ava walked slightly ahead of Damian, her steps measured, her back straight, her hands relaxed at her sides even though her pulse was anything but calm.
She could feel him behind her.
Not his footsteps, those were controlled and quiet as always, but his presence. It pressed lightly against her back, it was warm and steady, as if the space between them had shrunk without either of them choosing it.
She didn't turn. She told herself it was because there was no reason to. Because she didn't want to make things awkward. Because she didn't want to read too much into a look, a glance and even the silence.
