Velvet chains of winter

lence so complet

framed with dark wooden beams that caught the early morning light. The bed beneath her was soft

ly, her heart b

tte's grip on her wrist, Maribel's smile finally cracking,

est ti

was

onger in Mar

ng someone to shout at her for stepping out of place. No one did. The room rema

window and pushed

leaves stirring gently in the breeze. A narrow path wound through a garden burstin

a

ade her br

m against the glass

ck came at

tiffene

owly, and Kael ste

carved by business armor. He wore a dark shirt, sleeves

tle you," he said quie

able to trust

leaning casually against the doorfr

m then. "What ki

You're free to leave your room. You're free to walk the grou

tened. "And if

te. "Then you tell

ts. No c

cho

l?" she as

es

inside h

ack the sudden burn in her eyes. "I

gently. "That's wh

dded, "You don't

tled heavily

oment. "What I found will take time to dism

tte?" Ela

ghtened. "She

his voice sent a

ss from Kael, unsure how to eat without feeling watched. But no one corre

lt un

against a pillar with sharp eyes scanning everything, Luca moving silently through the room

er with curiosit

expected," Theo mutt

him a warn

s hands. "Prot

d. "Welcome

almost

ining nothing unless she asked. He let her set the pace

the garden, she

d quietly. "You do

through the trees before

weak?" s

firmly. "That

swal

t me like they di

her. "Because you're no

too close, too intimate. Elara too

not

ed back

e said calmly. "I won't cros

pounded

u," she w

e staring at the ceiling once more. But this

like pos

stood at the window of his s

d quietly. "But she's mor

pa

ed. "This is

her

d softly. "That

all and stared

Elara was no longer

s per

.