Hope's POV.
The hot water pours over my shoulders, tracing rivulets down my back as steam curls around me. I brace my hands against the tile wall, letting the water beat away the ache in my muscles and the weight in my chest. The move had gone smoothly - surprisingly so - but the unease that had taken root in my gut was still there.
I think about Velara's face, the way her voice had trembled just slightly as she said, "I'm glad you're here." I had been caught off guard by the sincerity in her eyes. Gratitude. Maybe even a flicker of acceptance. It should have brought comfort, but instead, it brought questions.
Why now?
Velara never trusted me. She never wanted me here. So, why the sudden shift? Was it simply gratitude for saving Vladimir's life, or something else? Something to do with
