. Elira found herself caught in an impossible web - torn between the past she d

partment window felt colder, more distant. The city bu

of her life, a reminder of everything she'd

iances to be forged and battles to be fought. But with him came the suffocating weight

t, the soft glow of a single lamp casting long shadows. Her hand instinctively moved to

hone

ated, the

her voice

nt. "There's been a development

an down h

ho

But you need

ead before she

h caught

n't saf

had come to confro

is time with purpos

she was waiting, her

is," she said

ure softening just enough to reveal

certain, fraught with

y to fight-not just for herself, but f

nd danger. Elira's apartment, once a sanctuary, now felt like a fragile

p against the flickering city lights. His eyes,

he said, voice low. "They kno

ght of those words crushing h

need to find out. But whatever it takes

couldn't seem to let go. The man who had shattered her wor

lira said, voice tremblin

ed for a fleeting moment.

ra was introduced to Kaelan's closest confidants-people who moved with

s a frag

ghts filled with sec

the call

ce was urgent, strain

ld react, the

allowed the

reached for Kaelan's h

se," he w

echoed-slow, deli

tle had

would ever