It was dimly lit when Aveloria reached the hallway leading to her chambers. The servants were already retiring, their footsteps fading into silence. She was only a few steps from her chamber door when someone called her name.
"Aveloria."
She turned. It was her younger brother, Evander, standing halfway down the hall. He looked casual in his night tunic, his hair tousled as though he'd been lying down before deciding to find her.
"I thought you'd forgotten us again," he said, walking toward her. His tone was teasing, but his eyes weren't.
"Forgotten you?" she asked, forcing a smile. "I wouldn't do that."
"You missed our hangout."
The guilt hit her immediately. Their weekly sibling gathering, a small thing they'd done since childhood, was eating together in the garden or playing board games after dinner. She'd promised to be there this time.
"I'm sorry," she said honestly. "It completely slipped my mind."
He studied her. "Are you okay? You've been…off lately."
"I'm fine."
