Serena
The knocking came early.
Too early.
I was still in my robe, brushing Ari’s hair while he sat on the counter eating toast. My mother was folding linens on the couch. Everything was normal — quiet, still.
Then three firm knocks at the door.
A pause.
Then another.
Ma and I looked at each other. Her eyes narrowed.
I opened it carefully.
Kael stood there.
Dressed simply. No guards. No pomp.
Just Kael — towering, tense, and holding a folded envelope in one hand.
His eyes found Ari behind me, then flicked to my face.
“I want to show you something,” he said.
We walked together in silence. I didn’t ask questions. He didn’t offer answers.
The estate was unusually quiet for mid-morning.
There was something different in the way everyone looked at me now.
Like they didn’t quite
