“I don’t know where they are,” I said.

“You will find them,” Killian said.

“Because if you don’t, I will have to come in there and get them myself.”

“And I don’t think you want to see what happens to your shop when I do.”

“Why are you doing this?” I asked.

“Aries trusted you.”

“Aries is a relic,” Killian said.

“He thinks he can control everything with silence.”

“But the world is loud, Sienna.”

“And it’s getting louder.”

The line went dead.

I stood there, the receiver still pressed to my ear.

The silence of the shop felt different now.

It felt heavy, dangerous, like a trap.

I turned toward the basement stairs to call Aries.

But before I could take a step, the front door of the atelier rattled.

Someone was turning the brass handle from the outside.

The lock clicked.

The door began to slide open, letting in a draft of cold, wet air.

I froze, my hand clutching the blue silk.

The shadow that fell across the threshold was too wide to be Aries.

Before I could scream, a heavy, wet hand slammed over my mouth.