Chapter 79
Kael did not leave.
He knew he should. Even standing still felt dangerous, like the moment he relaxed, something inside him would take over again. The pressure in his chest had not disappeared. It had only changed, settling into something quieter but far more controlled, and that made it harder to trust.
Still, he remained where he was.
It was not because he thought things were safe. It was because something in him did not want to move, and that unsettled him more than anything else. The hesitation did not feel like his own.
A few steps away, Mira watched him without stepping back. She was not tense, and she did not look like she was preparing to run. She simply stood there, focused and calm in a way that felt out of place.
