Nevara
By the time we made it to the dining room, my parents and Noah were already seated, laughing over something my mother said. For a moment, it felt like the calm before everything changed. Like if I focused hard enough, I could pretend none of it was unraveling.
I took my seat beside Noah, greeting him with a soft smile. “Heard you ditched the dragon.”
He grinned. “Only because I didn’t want it to burn the meat.”
Michelle swept into the room a few minutes later, taking the seat at the head of the table with her usual graceful authority. “Evening, everyone.”
Then came Thoren.
He entered without fanfare, his shoulders squared and expression unreadable. But his eyes found mine instantly—and lingered. He sat beside me, brushing his hand against my knee beneath the table in silent ap
