[Lior's POV — Morvael Castle — Alaric's Chamber — Next Morning]
Morning came quietly.
Too quietly.
For a long time, I didn't move, I didn't open my eyes, and I didn't even try to turn. The bed felt too large, the blankets too heavy, and the air inside the chamber felt different… thicker, like the walls had moved closer during the night.
My ankle throbbed the moment I shifted. A dull, steady pain, not sharp like yesterday, but enough to remind me that running was no longer an option.
I stared at the ceiling.
The same ceiling, the same room, and the same cage.
"…So it wasn't a dream." My voice sounded dry, almost unfamiliar to my own ears.
Before the thought could settle, the chamber door opened; the sound echoed through the room, heavy and final.
He walked in.
Not alone.
