The silence between them held a weight neither of them could ignore, yet it felt different now—less like a wall and more like a bridge, fragile but existing. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Nia allowed herself to lean into it, to accept the quiet connection that pulsed between her and Ash. The room felt warmer, the night less oppressive. But underneath the tentative peace, there was still a churning storm, one that neither of them could escape.
Nia's hand remained in Ash's, her fingers still lightly pressed against his. She had given him only a sliver of her trust, a fraction of what he had asked, and yet it felt like everything had shifted. For the first time in so long, the weight of her mission, her hatred, didn't feel all-consuming. The empire had created monsters, b
