The night air was cool.
When Daisy and Aaron stepped out onto the terrace, the noise of the ballroom fell away like a door closing. Only faint echoes of music and murmurs drifted through the walls.
Lanterns glowed along the stone railings. Beyond, the forest spread out like a dark sea.
Daisy took a deep breath.
For the first time that evening, her shoulders eased.
Aaron watched her quietly. “Better?" he asked.
“Yes," she said. “Much."
They walked to the edge of the terrace. Daisy rested her hands on the cold stone, looking out at the trees. Aaron stayed a respectful step beside her, hands loosely at his sides.
“You handled yourself well in there," he said. “Most people would have collapsed under half of what happened."
“I wanted to," she admitted. “A few times."
“Why didn't you?"
