Back in Ebonspire...
Kellan's patience, already frayed, was loosening rapidly. The thick tension in the air seemed to grow denser with each passing second as he stood in front of Aira, his fingers twitching at his side as if ready to strike. His usually sharp, penetrating gaze was clouded by irritation, and the single thought that Yara—his woman—was within reach yet slipping through his fingers gnawed at him.
Aira stood before him, calm as ever. Her posture was perfect, casual even, in her tailored riding leathers, the faint glow of the evening sun catching the strands of auburn in her otherwise dark hair. The flicker of a smile played at the corner of her lips, though her eyes told a different story—there was knowledge behind those irises, something she wasn't sharing, and Kellan could feel it.
