The morning breeze drifted gently through the wide windows of Adriana’s chamber. The sky was a pale blue streaked with golden light from the rising sun. The air still carried traces of dew’s coolness, but there was a sense of relief hanging over the castle—like the sigh that comes after a long storm. At last, this place could breathe again.
It had been two days since Kesha was exiled from the castle. The murmurs and tension among the omegas had slowly begun to fade. Some had started greeting Adriana again, though a few still held onto doubt. But Adriana didn’t rush their acceptance. What mattered most was that she no longer walked alone.
Ryan came into her room. He didn’t knock. He knew he was welcome inside.
Adriana was brushing her hair in front of the mirror when she heard the door o
