Kael
The castle had that hum again—that soft thrum of normalcy trying to stitch itself back together.
We’d just returned from the lab, finally the blood was drawn. No further delays, no complications.
It should’ve felt like closure.
But as I turned toward the eastern corridor, aiming for my rooms, I heard him behind me.
“You’re not coming to dinner?” Thoren asked.
I slowed but didn’t stop. “Nah. I’ve got some things I want to do.”
Thoren’s tone dipped into amused territory. “Or someone?”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Don’t.”
But the smirk was already there, subtle but smug. “You know you can bring him to dinner, right? Let us meet this mystery man of yours.”
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s new. I don’t even really know him yet.”
Thoren nodded, the teasing edge soften
