Elora’s POV
Man, those fortress nights? Forget about peace and quiet. There’s always that one guard, bored out of his mind, shifting his weight every two seconds. Tonight, every sound was breathing down my neck, reminding me this whole thing was a dumb idea.
Let’s be real, I had zero business going to see him. Especially not now, with the council already watching me like I’m about to pull the pin on a grenade and toss it under their table. The whole Dante situation was a circus, and I was the center of attention. Still, I couldn't go. I needed somebody to look me in the eyes and tell me I wasn’t losing my mind.
I stopped at his door, heart pulling some breakdance moves in my chest. Two guards, serious as statues, didn’t say squat as I slipped by. One gave the other a sideways look, like
