Louder Than Silence

Giles answered without hesitation, tone perfectly neutral.

“Ms. Bianca and Ms. Lyra have already left, sir.”

The words hit like a gunshot.

Kaelen stood abruptly, the chair scraping hard against the floor.

“What?!”

“Yes, sir,” Giles said calmly. “They departed approximately twenty minutes ago.”

Kaelen’s fist clenched at his side, knuckles whitening, pulse suddenly loud in his ears.

Twenty mi