Eli pushed open the door of the cafe, his chest heaving with frustration and defeat. The bell above the door chimed softly, and the warm air inside greeted him, but it did little to soothe the ache in his heart. He scanned the room, his eyes landing on Solene—or rather, Arietta—sitting by the window, her fingers lightly drumming against the wooden table. She looked up when he entered, her face a mix of anticipation and worry.
Eli dragged himself over to her, collapsing into the chair opposite without a word. His entire body felt heavy, weighed down by the emotions swirling inside him. The cafe around them buzzed with quiet chatter, but to Eli, it felt distant, like the world outside didn’t exist anymore.
"Did you find her?" Arietta’s voice was soft, cautious.
Eli shook his head, his jaw
