Damian left his room without looking back.
The door closed behind him with a muted click, and his footsteps carried down the corridor in unhurried steps, yet heavy with something Ava couldn't quite name. She stood just inside her room but her door y, her fingers curled against the frame, her heart racing as though she had been the one caught doing something forbidden. She had gotten up from her bed the moment she heard his door close like she had been waiting the entire time to hear if he would leave his room. Was he leaving the house or just going down to his study. she wondered. She sighed deeply and she waited. When she couldn't wait any longer Ava opened her door and stepped into the hallway.
She told herself she would give it a minute. Just a minute. Enough time to calm the unease pooling in her chest, enough time to remind herself that whatever Damian was dealing with was not hers to intrude upon.
But she didn't move.
