Genevieve's POV
The air outside carried a different quality than before. Not hotter or cooler, just changed in ways I couldn't describe. I stood on the stone terrace overlooking the courtyard, letting the afternoon sun warm my face. The brightness felt harsh after the shadowy halls inside, but it grounded me. Made everything feel real again.
Behind me, sounds drifted from the estate. Footsteps, voices, the steady rhythm of people working to restore order after the chaos we'd just survived. I didn't turn around. I stayed exactly where I was and simply breathed.
The door creaked open behind me. Light footsteps crossed the stone. Julian. He stopped beside me without saying a word. For several heartbeats, he just stood there, his presence calm and familiar as we both stared out at the same view.
