Nicholas's POV:
The soft crackle of the fire in the study was the only sound in the room as I leaned back in my chair, pressing my fingers to my temples. The weight of the day was beginning to seep into my bones, but my mind refused to slow down. My thoughts scattered between border patrol reports and preparations for the upcoming summit, an uneasy tension simmering just beneath the surface.
I let out a sigh, the kind that came from deep within, laced with exhaustion and frustration. The flickering firelight cast long, shifting shadows across the room, but even its warmth couldn’t ease the chill creeping into my chest.
A knock at the door interrupted my spiraling thoughts.
“Come in,” I said, my voice steady despite the lingering weariness.
The door creaked open, and James stepped ins
