The heavy doors creaked open, and Eldrin stepped in. His robe was stained with travel dust, and the faint scent of herbs clung to him — the unmistakable mark of a healer. But the air that greeted him wasn’t welcoming; it was thick with hostility. Kia stood in the center of the chamber, arms crossed, his expression carved with fury. Lucia was beside him, her eyes darting between the two men, unsure if she should intervene.

Eldrin barely had time to speak before Kia’s voice cut through the ...