#Chapter 56: Distance

Elara When I returned home that night, Alaric wasn’t in bed. Not that I expected him to be; when I pulled into the driveway, I could see his light on inside his study, indicating that he was likely up late working. Knowing him and the nature of this most recent problem, he’d spend all night in his office. Still, as I showered and changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed, the sheets felt colder than usual. Staring at the ceiling, I tried to let the quiet of the room lull me to sleep, but the empty space at my back was a constant reminder. I hated the way it felt—like the weight of him should still be there, the warmth of his body emanating across the expanse between us. But to him, I was just a mistake. The mark on my neck was just a reminder of that mistake. And we had never shared a bed out of love, but out of necessity. The next morning, I woke to gray skies, a light drizzle pattering against the window. Just as I suspected, Alaric’s side of the bed