The silence that followed Dorian's disappearance did not feel empty. It felt placed—like a pause designed into a plan, waiting for them to step into it. Sebastian stood in the narrow corridor, unmoving at first, his gaze fixed ahead, but his thoughts had already moved far beyond the space in front of him. He was no longer asking where Dorian had gone. He was asking how far ahead he had already positioned himself.
Vivian reached his side, her breathing uneven from the chase, but her mind steady. She studied the empty passage, then looked at Sebastian, and in that moment, she understood without needing explanation.
"He didn't run," she said quietly.
Sebastian gave a small nod. "No. He transitioned."
