Alera’s POV
Days rolled by before I knew it, and soon, our time at Ironclaw came to an end. The gifts from Kael were graciously received by Alpha Xerves, who accepted them on behalf of Darius, his ever-proud son. I watched the entire exchange carefully, wondering if I could pick up anything—any slip of the tongue, any glance that betrayed secrets they might be hiding.
But nothing.
They were all too guarded. Too practiced.
I had even tried wandering a little during the banquet nights, pretending to admire the decorations or the view, hoping to catch whispers behind closed doors. Still, there was nothing. No cracks in their perfect, polished walls for me to pry into. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I accepted it for what it was.
When the morning of our departure arrived, Beta Za
