Days passed like shadows - each one marked by Callum's conspicuous absence. No appearances at dawn, no mysterious meetings at the overlook, not even a ripple in reality to suggest he was watching.
Samantha found herself staring out windows more often, searching for signs of violet eyes or reality bending around corners. The silence felt wrong, somehow more threatening than his constant presence had been.
"He hasn't shown up at all," she mentioned to Marcus one evening as they sat in their living room. "Not since..."
"Since you tried to seduce him?" Kai finished from his spot by the fireplace. His tone held no judgment now, just curiosity.
"Since he ran away," she corrected. "That's what bothers me. Callum doesn't run. He manipulates, he controls, he plays his games. But run?"
Marcus looked up from his book. "You're thinking about the dream again."
