Elaras POV
No one dared to take the furst step, not even me. The open doorway wasn’t inviting and it still didn’t threaten.
Like it had done what it was meant to do and now the next move belonged to us, and the silence that followed felt heavier than anything we had walked through so far, like the temple itself had withdrawn just enough to see what choice would be made.
Kael didn’t release me right away.
His hand stayed firm on my arm, grounding, steady, like he was making sure I was fully here before anything else happened, and I let myself lean into that for a second longer than I probably should have, letting the last of the pressure settle out of my chest.
“Talk to me,” he said quietly.
Not demanding.
Not sharp.
Just steady.
I swallowed, my gaze still fixed on the dark
