Velvet chains of winter
e never t
vements she could barely hear-footsteps soft against stone, the low murmur of voices carrie
dawn, heart racing
No shouting. No doors slamming. No sharp voices slicing thro
and padded tow
he gates, its headlights cuttin
ghtened h
The house felt different this morning-tense, alert
eep her hid
n's
be hidden," Kael repl
as added dryly, "d
at the corner,
d. "Maribel Vale contacted two externa
led slowl
eo muttered, "is goin
fore she could stop hers
s turne
in anger, but concern.
t in the dark," she sai
moment
ded once
ed for he
he explained calmly. "Not over you directly
estate," El
es
ed slightly. "So
finally cracking. He stopped himself, inhaled slowly
rt-but it al
" Elara said. "I'm ti
fully. "Bravery doesn
But I need to feel like
shifted in
," Elias murmured
him. "What ar
lara said. "H
nce
ael nodded
was heavy-and
Kael insisted she acco
hi
disg
si
as familiar streets passed by, fear curling in her
so
embling, Kael ordered coffee as if
e," Rowan muttere
aze. "Tell me if y
di
way, recognition flickering across he
r phone
own
ng behind him
ood ra
show Kael i
she str
pered to herse
the screen
the mess
ic
round him dropped
pected," he
e angry,"
tted. "Because t
cash on the table.
wailed faintly
owan confirmed what K
wan said grimly. "Surve
curled slowl
ds now,"
, fear and trust c
lowed to choos
r-but stopped at a
e said.
no
ething neither o
hed for
bar
fraction of a second before he gen
osses
cont
ida
t, Kael realized the tr
would cost him fa
cost hi
.