Mira’s POV

The confinement started quietly. No one said it aloud, but the guards stationed by the door said enough. Cyrus told her it was precautionary. Kael was gone before dawn. The bond felt muted, heavy with something she couldn’t name.

She paced for hours before Seraphine appeared. The woman walked in like she owned the place. She wore a calm smile, calm eyes, everything calculated. The guards hesitated to stop her. She waved them off, her tone too sweet to argue. Mira stayed by the ...