I couldn’t stop smiling. It felt ridiculous, but I didn’t care. For once, the fear wasn’t heavier than me. I’d touched the veil—opened it, closed it—and I was still standing. My chest felt lighter, like I’d finally proved to myself that I wasn’t just some fragile doll everyone had to protect.
Tyler lounged in the chair, arms crossed, trying to look unimpressed, but I caught the corner of his mouth twitching upward. He noticed me noticing and immediately cleared his throat, turning his face away.
Alaric leaned casually against the wall, one shoulder brushing it, arms loose but alert. His sharp eyes were fixed on me, watching my every move, betraying a flicker of approval he’d never admit aloud.
The warmth in my chest bubbled higher. They were proud of me. Even if neither of them would ad
