The corridor stretched long and quiet ahead of us. My boots clicked softly on the stone, the echoes fading into shadow.
Darius’s arm stayed firm around my waist, guiding me like he knew I might drift without him.
We passed under another lantern, the golden light brushing across his profile—sharp jaw, steady eyes fixed forward.
I watched him as we walked, unable to stop myself.
The way he moved made me feel smaller, safer, like nothing could touch me while he was there.
The scents shifted as we turned a corner: woodsmoke from the hearths below, a faint hint of leather and oil. Far off, someone laughed, muffled by thick walls.
But in this hallway, it was just us. Just the sound of our steps and the steady rhythm of my breathing.
I didn’t even notice we’d reached the familiar heavy do
