A Fragile Truce

POV: AELIANA

The air in the room felt like it had been replaced with lead. It wasn’t just the heat of the afternoon sun streaming through the windows; it was the sheer, crushing weight of my father’s presence. Evaric stood in the doorway, his massive frame blocking out the light, his shadow stretching across the floor like a predator claiming its territory. His eyes, usually a warm amber, were no