Ardan’s POV

The road stretched ahead like a vein, winding through the woods as our vintage car hummed quietly. The scent of aged leather and smoke lingered in the air. Duncan sat beside me, one hand on his jaw, the other tapping impatiently on his knee, staring out at the road like it had personally offended him. I watched him from the side, silent for a moment.

He hadn’t spoken since we left the healers place. The air between us was thick with the weight of what had just happened.

I ...