-Ronan Hale:
I moved through the halls of the castle, the stone walls casting long shadows in the dim torchlight. The night outside was silent, broken only by the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl. Everything felt still. Peaceful, even.
It had been two days since I started training with Lucien. Two days since I had grudgingly accepted that if I wanted to survive—if I wanted to protect Elara and our child—I had no choice but to learn how to control this… thing inside me.
And I was getting better. Slowly. I wasn't at Lucien's level—not even close—but I'd moved a rock. Three whole centimeters. That was progress.
Not enough to make me happy. But enough to keep me trying.
I reached Elara's room and quietly pushed the door open.
She was sleeping.
