Elara
The road back to Lycandoria felt longer than it truly was. The horses’ hooves struck the earth in a steady rhythm clop, clop, clop like a heartbeat muffled under layers of stone. The wheels of the carriage creaked and rattled, shaking with every uneven turn. Yet inside, there was no sound. No laughter. No warmth.
Xavier sat across from me, his shoulders pressed stiff against the seat as though even the touch of fabric was unwelcome. His gaze never once met mine. He stared out the window as if the trees rushing past held secrets only he could see. His jaw was clenched so tightly I could almost hear his teeth grinding. His silence was heavier than any words could have been.
I folded my hands in my lap, squeezing them until my knuckles turned pale. My throat ached with the weight of
