The Mistress
was over, and the first day of our new life had begun.
We drove back to the Sanctuary in silence, the weight of the ring on my finger a constant, comforting presence. As we pulled into the driveway, Ethan was already on the porch, holding his puppy, waiting for us. He waved, his face bright with a simple, uncomplicated happiness.
But as I stepped out of the car, my eyes caught something in the mailbox—a single, small slip of paper.
It wasn’t an envelope. It wasn’t a threat.
It was a bill for a private charter flight, paid in full, departing from the local airfield in two hours. The destination wasn’t the Pacific island or a High Council safe house.