48

48

ANNALISE

FLASHBACK

The scent of incense filled the air, sweet and calming, but there was an odd tension underneath it. I sat across from Spencer in his small study, watching the smoke curl and dance around him like a living thing. He had taken to burning incense lately, a habit I hadn’t noticed before. It wasn’t just the smell—it was how he seemed different when he was around it. His eyes would glaze over slightly, his focus elsewhere, like he was drifting between worlds.

“You’ve been using a lot of these lately,” I said, eyeing the small burner on the table between us. “What’s the reason?”

Spencer looked at me, a slight smile playing on his lips. His dark eyes, usually so sharp and intense, softened as the smoke swirled around him. “I’ve been reading about how different incenses can help clear the mind, make it easier to store knowledge. With all the history I’m tasked with remembering, it helps.”

His explanation was casual, but something about it didn’t sit right with me. Spencer