The castle grew quiet as night fell. One by one, the others scattered, grumbling, muttering, finding their own corners to rest in. Doors shut. Footsteps faded. Voices dimmed. Until there was nothing left but silence, a sharp silence. Silence and them.
Mae sat curled at the edge of the long, low bench by the window, knees pulled to her chest. The fracture-twisted sky stretched beyond the cracked glass, endless spirals of stars stitched between ribbons of black and violet clouds.
She hadn’t meant to stay here. Not she had a choice in staying. When the others started filing out her feet wouldn’t move. Her chest wouldn’t loosen and her breath was still. And neither did his. Ashar. Still seated across the room. Still like a statue, back straight, elbows resting on his knees, fingers loosely t
