The study was quiet, save for the crackling of the fireplace and the distant chirping of birds outside the window. Jasper sat at his large mahogany desk, the weight of his thoughts pressing heavily on him. War had taken a toll on him, not just physically but mentally. He had been away from Nicole for far too long, and the strain of everything that had happened in the battlefield still lingered like a shadow over his heart.
He ran a hand through his platinum blonde hair, his brows furrowed in frustration. Despite the victory, there was something unresolved in him—a deep, gnawing anger that he couldn't shake. The corruption that coursed through him since he'd returned had only grown worse, though he did his best to keep it at bay.
The door to the study creaked open slowly, and Nicole stepped in, her delicate features softened by concern. Her petite frame seemed even smaller in the dim light, but she carried an air of quiet strength as she made her way toward him.
