Chapter 23
The fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the cabin walls. Calliope’s soft breathing was the only sound from the small bedroom, where she lay nestled under a heavy quilt. Juniper sat at the table, her hands wrapped around a mug of tea she wasn’t drinking. Kael stood by the window, staring out into the dark forest, his broad shoulders tense. Rylen leaned against the doorframe, his usual confident posture strained with an unspoken weight. The silence stretched until Juniper couldn’t bear it any longer. “So,” she began, her voice breaking the stillness, “are we finally going to talk about it? Or are we going to keep dancing around the truth until it’s too late?” Kael turned from the window, his gray eyes meeting hers. He hesitated, then crossed the room, sitting a
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