The discussion kept going — talk of patrols, defenses, and watch schedules — but my focus drifted back to that ring. I couldn’t stop staring at it. Every part of me screamed that it was more than just a clue. It was a message. They were telling me they were still out there.
As we talked, I noticed Gage and Lilly sitting together at the far end of the table. Lilly leaned close to him, whispering something that made him smile. She rested her hand on his arm, her fingers brushing his skin like she owned him.
It made something twist in my chest. Not jealousy — not anymore — but unease.
When dinner was finally served, everyone was starving. The dining hall filled with warm smells — bread, roasted meat, herbs, and stew. The noise of conversation filled the space, but beneath it all, tension h
