Skylar

Taking a deep breath, I lower my guard and step back from the fray. The tension in my shoulders eases slightly as I move towards them. We gather around a rustic wooden bench that has seen many such breaks before, its surface worn smooth by time and use.

"Okay, break time it is," I say, attempting a playful tone, though my voice betrays the underlying fatigue.

"Smart choice," Alaric responds, the corner of his mouth lifting in approval. He hands me a water bottle, his ...