The silence after the royals vanished did not feel like relief.
It felt like the world had inhaled and forgotten how to breathe.
For several long seconds, Caleb did not move. The lake behind him lay black and still, reflecting nothing. His aura, once a crushing force, now withdrew inward like a storm folding into itself — contained, controlled, dangerous.
When he finally turned toward her, something in his expression had changed.
Not suspicion.
Not anger.
Conflict.
Real, unguarded conflict.
“You will not speak of what happened tonight,” he said quietly. “Not to anyone. Not about the bond. Not about… what you claim to be.”
His gaze sharpened slightly.
“Especially about being the Messenger.”
Iva swallowed. Her chest still ached from the pressure he had unleashed earlier, but somet
