Sera's Pov
The house creaked with the wind outside, a quiet, wooden groan that matched the mood. We'd been in camp for days now, surrounded by tension and caution, but for once… it was calm.
Not safe. Never safe. But calm.
Lisa and I had dragged the old rug in front of the fireplace, now flickering low with the last bits of heat for the night. Kael leaned against the edge of the couch, long legs stretched out, one arm resting on his knee. Lisa had taken over the single pillow like it was a throne, lying belly-down and absently flipping a coin through her fingers. I sat cross-legged across from her, arms folded as I tried not to feel too warm from the fire—or from Kael's quiet presence just to my left.
No instructions barking orders. No maps. No threats or debates or strained diplomacy.
Just us. For once, just us.
