Selene sat quietly in Kaelen’s chamber, the same one that had once felt like a cage. The air smelled faintly of smoke and sandalwood, the scent that always clung to him. He stood by the window, arms folded, watching her with a faint curve at the corner of his lips.

“You’ve been frowning since morning,” Kaelen said, his tone light, almost teasing.

Selene didn’t look up. “You notice that now?”

Kaelen’s smirk deepened. “I notice everything that interests me, your frown being one ...