Darian's POV
The Elders didn't linger. Once they were satisfied that we were physically inside the suite and the heavy oak doors were shut, they retreated to whatever dark corner of the mansion they inhabited. With how large it was, we could go months without even seeing each other. The guards took up their posts downstairs leaving us by ourselves.
We didn't talk. The exhaustion of the run and the shock of the new living arrangements were too much for conversation. We just retreated to our separate rooms quietly.
My room was spacious and cold. It was decorated in deep blues and heavy mahogany, with a bed large enough for four people. I stood by the window for a long time, looking out at the moonlit grounds. It felt surreal. My mate was sleeping just a few feet away, separated only by a
