The doors at the far end of the hall creaked open, and all eyes shifted toward the entrance. There stood Zev, tall and composed, his usual air of arrogance tempered by the quiet presence of Thalia at his side. She walked a step behind him, her posture rigid, though her expression was unreadable. As they moved toward their seats, a palpable shift took over the room. Conversations halted, utensils paused mid-air, and curious whispers began to ripple through the gathering.
Zev’s lips curled into a smirk as he scanned the room. His voice broke the sudden silence, low and teasing. “Why does everyone look as if they’ve seen a ghost?”
Several of the guests quickly averted their gazes, but Orion, seated midway down the table, didn’t bother to hide his amusement. He glanced up from cutting into h
