Kael had been leaning against the counter for a while, quietly observing them, gauging Dareth and Elara's reactions from the corner of his eye. He wasn't intrusive, nor blunt-just perceptive. He was the one who always knew when not to ask questions. But now, as Elara turned back to her laptop, Kael gave Dareth a small nod, as if silently saying: I see it. Everyone does.
The air in the kitchen shifted. Not dramatically-more like the slow build of wind before a spring storm turns ominous. And the inner circle all noticed it. Their harmony wasn't built on words. Their silence spoke more than most people's confessions ever could.
Thyra arrived next, her movements as precise and military as ever. The morning training left a cool tension in every muscle, her hand still trembling slightly from
