The grey light of dawn was still hours away when I returned to Kaelen's chambers. The preparation was complete: my supplies packed, my weapons sharpened, my heart heavy with the weight of what was to come. Runa had gone to fetch her gear, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the man I loved. The fire had burned down to embers, casting the room in a soft, amber glow that seemed to hold its breath.
Kaelen stood by the window, looking out at the darkness. His silhouette was sharp against the pale glow of the Rift on the horizon, his shoulders rigid, his hands clasped behind his back. He did not turn when I entered, but I felt his awareness like a physical presence: the tension in his body, the fear he was trying so hard to hide.
"Runa is coming with me," I said, closing the door behind me.
"I know."
I crossed the room, stopping a few feet behind him. My boots were silent on the stone floor, but I knew he could feel my approach. He always could.
