(Caius)
I didn’t look back when we left the hall. I didn’t need to see them again to know what had been set in place. The doors closed behind us, and the sound carried through the corridor in a way that marked a clear end. My men stayed where they had been positioned, and no one moved to follow.
Isla stayed beside me as we walked. She didn’t rush forward, and she didn’t fall behind, she kept pace without effort. Her hand still held the edge of my cloak, not tight, not uncertain, just there. I didn’t move to take it from her, and I didn’t acknowledge it aloud.
The corridor ahead of us remained clear. Every guard stepped aside before we reached them, lowering their gaze without needing to be told. No one spoke, and no one tried to hold our attention. That silence followed us the entire le
