Gray’s POV

I stepped out of the palace, the weight of the discussions lingering behind me. It had been a long day, and I was looking forward to a quiet evening.

As I walked down the steps toward the parking lot, my eyes caught sight of Aurora and Sloane standing together, talking animatedly.

They were laughing, their voices light, the conversation flowing easily between them.

Sloane’s eyes brightened when she saw me approach, and she smiled warmly.

“There you are!” she said. “I was ...