Benedict's POV
I emerged from the infirmary at a calculated pace. Neither rushed nor leisurely. Simply a weary man departing from a vigil beside his ailing sister-in-law's bedside.
The corridor extended before me in sterile silence. Only the guard who had scrambled for assistance remained visible. He maintained rigid posture now. Spine erect. Gaze fixed ahead. Attempting to project competence while anxiety emanated from him like stale smoke.
I acknowledged him with a brief nod as I passed. He returned the gesture.
Then I spotted her. Celeste. Moving away from the medical wing. Her posture was tense. Her gait hurried yet uneven. As though she fled from danger or rushed toward urgency.
Ideal.
I accelerated and shortened the gap between us. My steps remained silent against the polished floor but she detected my approach because she turned.
Her expression shifted when she recognized me.
