(Caius)
I walked beside her as we approached the doors, matching my pace to hers without making it obvious. She didn’t hesitate at the threshold, not at the sound of voices inside, not at the weight of what waited for her beyond it. The cloak hung around her shoulders, dark against her skin, and her steps weren’t perfect yet, but they were hers. That was enough for me.
The guards opened the doors the moment they saw us, moving quickly and without question. My wolves stood positioned exactly where I’d left them, holding the space, controlling the room, keeping Ashcrest contained without a single wasted movement. Every head turned as Isla crossed the threshold beside me, and the silence that followed wasn’t forced. It was earned.
Good.
Let them see her properly now.
Let them understand
