~Quiet Things That Don’t Stay Quiet~

EIRA

I woke before the guards changed shift.

The room was still dark, Elrich asleep beside me. I stayed still for a moment, listening to his breathing. Steady. Calm. That helped more than I wanted to admit. I slid out of bed carefully and dressed without waking him.

The pack felt different without Daphne in it. Not lighter. Just alert. Like the walls were waiting.

I went straight to the inner yard. Two patrol leaders were already there, finishing a ...