The dawn light was only just brushing the highest towers when Elinora heard it — the faint scrape of steel against stone.
Her wolf froze mid-step inside her mind. Not ours.
She moved from the window slowly, letting her shadow melt into the far wall. From there she could watch the chamber door without standing directly in front of it.
The sound came again, softer this time.
Then the lock clicked.
A hand pushed the door open, slow, careful.
The first man through moved like a trained killer — low to the ground, knife in hand, his eyes scanning the room in quick, precise movements. Two more followed, one with a crossbow, the other with another curved blade. None wore the Keep’s crest.
They thought she was still sleeping.
She let them think it.
The first man crept toward the bed, his k
