Alejandro’s POVThe Haven did not erupt when we returned. It breathed. That was the first thing I noticed, the way the mountain exhaled around us as if it had been holding itself steady in our absence. The wards shimmered once, not in warning but recognition, and then settled. The scent of herbs, sage, juniper, something faintly floral Zenith favored, wrapped around us like a familiar cloak.Home sweet home.Zenith paused just past the threshold, fingers curling slightly in mine. I felt it immediately, the subtle shift in her posture, the way her awareness widened. Not fear but responsibility returning to her shoulders like a mantle she had set down for a week and now picked up again with care.“They’re calm,” she murmured. “Mostly.” “Mostly,” I echoed, scanning the courtyard. Lights glowed from the main hall. Someone laughed, unrestrained, loud and alive. Footsteps crossed stone. The Haven had not frozen in our absence. Instead, it had lived.Koa stood near the far archway, arms cro
Last Updated : 2026-01-22 Read more