Kael’s POV
We remained within the stone circle long after the air had settled.
The ancient pillars still glowed faintly around us, reacting to the promise I had spoken aloud, and the truth that lived inside my chest. The ground no longer trembled beneath our feet, but the energy of the place lingered like a witness that had not yet turned away. Elara stood in front of me quietly, her fingers still lightly tangled in the front of my tunic as though she feared I might vanish if she loosened her hold.
She had not spoken since I told her what I wanted.
Her silence did not anger me. It unsettled me.
I had faced war without flinching. I had burned enemies and commanded storms. But standing in front of her, waiting for her answer, made my pulse tighten in a way battle never could.
Her eyes
