[Vernon]
The enticing aromas drifting from the dining room grew stronger as I guided Elora through the quiet halls of the manor. The herbal bath had clearly worked its magic, easing the aches from her day of demolition and soothing the lingering echoes of my own sorrow that had, through our bond, inadvertently been clinging to her.
Now, seeing her refreshed and clad in the soft, dark silk gown I had provided, a new anticipation stirred within me—the promise of a shared meal, and perhaps tonight we could finally cross that final line the three of us had been dancing on.
As we stepped into the dining room, the scene was one of quiet, opulent beauty, illuminated by the soft glow of multiple candelabras. Leaving the intimacy of the small round table behind, Sylas chose to set the eight-seat
