VERA'S POV
The walk back to the castle was heavy and filled with tension. Draven strode ahead, his posture tensed and rigid, each step he took showing his anger. I trailed behind him, flanked by two warriors who, while not exactly hostile, made their mistrust clear by keeping their distance and constantly throwing glances at me. The weight of what I’d seen, of what I’d said—or hadn’t said—clung to me like a leach. I found myself wondering if maybe I should just opened up about everything back there, if maybe it would have been better than carrying the memories alone like I'd done for years. Secrets were truely a burden, one I'd been carrying my whole life.
When we reached the main castle gates, the warriors dispersed without a word. Draven didn’t even glance my way as he pushed open the
