Aiden POV
The last man dropped, and the room finally went quiet. I stayed where I was for a moment, my breathing heavier than I wanted it to be, my chest tight in a way I couldn’t ignore anymore. The adrenaline was wearing off, and it was starting to show. Every movement I had forced through the fight was catching up with me all at once.
I pushed it aside and focused on the man instead.
He hadn’t moved. He hadn’t reacted. He just stood there like he had already gotten what he wanted.
“Elara,” I said.
“I’m here.”
“Stay close.”
This time, she didn’t argue. I heard her step in behind me, close enough that I didn’t have to check.
“We’re leaving,” I said.
The man didn’t try to stop us. He only watched, that same quiet expression still in place, like the outcome had already been decided
