Kael's POV
The afternoon sun filtered lazily through the curtains, but it did nothing to lift the weight pressing down on my chest. I sat on the edge of the bed, shoulders tense, jaw tight, hands fidgeting with the clasp of my ring. The war council, the escape, the sudden threat from the Southern Territories—it all pressed on me like a vise.
Maya sat beside me, calm and steady as ever, her fingers brushing against mine, grounding me. "Kael… breathe," she whispered, her soft voice slicing through the chaos in my mind. "We've faced worse. You're not alone."
I shook my head, exhaling slowly. "I know, but… Lucas's advice—he said to take all of you to his house, away from Blackwood. It's… it's the safest option, and I keep thinking—"
"You keep thinking, but your body is screaming at you to protect us," Maya said gently, resting her hand over mine. Her eyes searched mine, unwavering. "I see it. I feel it. You're tense because you're worried. Let me help."
