Liam stepped forward wordlessly. He knelt, lifting the bundle out with surprising care. Up close, the box looked even more alien, its edges seamless, its surface etched with that old royal crest so finely it almost seemed to breathe under the soft terrace light.
As Liam held it, a faint pulse of familiarity brushed the back of his mind — a flicker, like a forgotten dream he couldn’t quite catch. He frowned, fingers drifting over the delicate engravings.
Sharon’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, oblivious to the storm flickering behind his eyes. She brushed off her hands and nudged him with her elbow.
“See? Told you it’s impossible to open. Believe me, I tried hammers, acid, enchantments and even bribed a shady locksmith once. Useless.”
But before she could finish her triumphant rant, Liam moved. Almost without thought, he crossed to the stone table at the terrace’s centre. He laid the box down gently, then h
