The fire crackled in the hearth, sending soft amber light across the stone walls of Varek’s chambers. Outside, the moon had reached its zenith, draping the night in silvery mystery. Yet within these walls, the air was heavy—not from the warmth of the flames, but from the silence that hung between Aria and Varek.They stood at opposite ends of the room. She at the window, arms wrapped tightly around herself, her golden hair shimmering in the moonlight. He by the hearth, one hand braced against the mantle, shoulders tense, his every breath carrying the weight of restraint.It had been days since the war council. Days since their arguments about trust, power, and fate had spilled over into words neither could easily take back. They had fought together on the battlefield, side by side, bodies moving in perfect synchrony. Yet when the armor was stripped away, when the war cries faded, they remained two stubborn souls, clashing like flint and steel.“Why do you keep pushing me away, Varek?”
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