Masuk(Siena's POV)My pulse stutters unevenly as I struggle to comprehend what I'm feeling.Beside me, Raiden's entire body tenses, his muscles rigid beneath the fitted fabric of his shirt, posture radiating barely-contained fury.His protective stance positions him squarely between me and this newcomer,
(Raiden's POV)We're gathered in the airy central chamber of Windhowl's main hall.The moment Siena smiles openly during the council meeting, my heart stutters in my chest—a quiet, profound reminder of everything I once lost, and everything I'm determined never to lose again.Afternoon sunlight stre
My breath catches softly, heart stumbling gently beneath quiet anxiety. Yet beneath hesitation lies cautious curiosity, openness I carefully nurture. I nod slowly. “Of course.” His voice remains gentle, carefully phrased to remove pressure or expectation. “Would you consider dinner? It's not reconc
(Siena's POV)The bruises on my skin have faded, yet the persistent ache deep inside my chest refuses to heal, Raiden's words echoing relentlessly within my mind despite my stubborn attempts to silence them.A week has passed since the attack, and Windhowl and Silverfang are finally beginning to hea
(Raiden's POV)The metallic scent of blood and antiseptic fills my lungs, mingling into a nauseating cocktail that twists my stomach into knots, but I refuse to leave Siena's side even for a moment.Around us, chaos slowly yields to order. Security forces carefully secure Lila and Mia, their wrists
(Siena POV)Chaos erupts instantly, and Lila lunges swiftly toward me, teeth bared, eyes glowing, glinting dangerously beneath dim lighting.Instinctively, Raiden moves protectively forward, yet equally instinctively, I shift swiftly to shield him, deliberately placing myself between Raiden and Lila
I stare at the compass, my fingers tracing the carvings as Horace stirs again, her emotions a mix of curiosity and reluctant admiration. “May it guide you home,” Raiden says quietly, his voice carrying an undercurrent of something I can’t quite name. “Whatever home means for you now.” His words
"We’ve rerouted delegates through alternate paths. Escorts from neutral territories will accompany them. No region should feel exposed or compromised."I watched the way her amber eyes scanned the room—not once landing on me. Every answer was precise, measured. She hadn’t lost her edge."Excellent.
“My opposition was… personal rather than political.”The confession costs me more deeply than I could have anticipated.Admitting my pettiness, admitting my inability to separate emotion from responsibility—it feels like peeling away a carefully maintained facade, exposing wounds I’ve long worked to
“She intercepted everything,” Zion says grimly, flipping through a stack of papers. “She blocked her calls, deleted her messages. She wanted to isolate Siena. To make you believe she wasn’t worth your time.” I feel sick. Horace howls in my mind, the sound raw and guttural, echoing the grief clawin







