Blake POV
The quiet Elle brought me doesn’t fade when the fire settles.
It holds.
That alone tells me more about her strength than any display of power ever could. She sits near the hearth now, knees drawn slightly toward herself, her posture relaxed but never careless. There is a stillness to her that wasn’t there before—an earned calm, the kind that comes from surviving too much and finally choosing where to stand.
The bond hums low and steady between us, not demanding, not pulling. Present. Balanced.
I turn my thoughts outward.
Because calm is a luxury I can’t afford for long.
“There are things I need to do,” I say finally, breaking the silence. “People I need to reach out to.”
Elle looks up at once, alert. “People you trust?”
“The very few who still exist,” I answer. “The ones
