The car pulled into the estate as the spring evening settled into its quietest hour.
The foyer lamp was on. The house was still. No small feet pattering down the stairs. No excited voices demanding to know how dinner was, what they ate, whether Uncle Franz was staying. The twins hadn't waited up.
Arianne climbed the stairs first. She paused at the twins' door, pushing it open a few inches. Lily was sprawled across her pillow, Petal tucked under her chin, her breathing slow and even. Leo was curled on his side, the Lion in the crook of his elbow.
"They didn't wait up," she said quietly.
"They were exhausted. The fort took a lot out of them." Franz was behind her, his voice low. "So did the past two days."
She pulled the door closed. Turned to face him in the dim hallway.
He took her hand. Led her toward his room.
She stopped. "You don't like my room?"
He turned back. The question had come out more directly than she'd intended, but she didn't soften it. She wanted to know.
