By the time afternoon settled over Polaris, I had managed to do something productive for myself besides watching the men fight all morning.
I had showered.
It felt like a small victory on my end. Hot water had washed away sweat, stains, and the lingering scent of last night—though not the memory of it. I dressed in something soft and simple afterward, loose fabric that felt like comfort against my skin, and for a brief, blissful moment, I convinced myself that the world outside Kael’s mother’s house had paused.
It had not.
The second I stepped back into the kitchen and glanced toward the backyard, I realized—with a sigh—that the chaos was still very much alive. Kael was still fighting. And now Calen had joined the party.
Lovely...
I leaned against the doorframe, staring at the battle
