"Nobody comes in."
Holden stood in front of his bedroom door, blocking the entrance. The corridor behind him was crowded with Team Soup, the Twins, and Balthazar's aide. All of them watched him with the same expression people wore when facing something they did not understand but knew was dangerous.
Lyra stepped forward and reached for his arm. Holden saw the movement and stepped back.
"I need one hour," he said. "Don't open this door. Don't knock, and don't try talking to me through it. Just give me one hour."
"Holden, you don't have to…"
"One hour, Lyra."
She stopped. Her blue eyes searched his face, but his black eyes stared back without warmth. There was no joke, no gentle redirect, and no sign that he wanted to be talked out of his decision. Only the cold certainty of a man who had already made up his mind.
Lyra slowly stepped back.
