[Third POV – Madison]
Madison sat quietly at her desk, facing the tall window that looked out over Solcarth. Night had begun to settle over the capital, lanterns blooming one after another along the streets, steady and distant. She had not changed out of her day clothes. A simple black and white layered outfit, a black suspender dress worn over a white collared blouse. Clean, restrained, deliberate. Everything about it was intentional.
She knew he was coming.
Or rather, she corrected herself, they were coming.
That was not what she wanted.
Her fingers rested lightly against the edge of the desk as she released a slow breath. She had never wanted Theo to depend on her this much, especially not consciously. Small nudges were one thing. Quiet course corrections that never felt like interference. This was different. This time, Theo would come to her because he had no other path left.
She sighed softly, irritation and resignation threading together in a way she did not like.
