The quiet of dawn settled over the palace grounds, broken only by the faint murmur of guards exchanging shifts and the distant, hushed calls of morning birds. El-Kharis, Azazel, and Leon gathered near the stone wall at the edge of the palace courtyard, shadows veiling them from any wandering eyes. Their breaths mingled in the cool air, each steady yet laced with an undeniable edge of excitement and tension.
Azazel looked over her shoulder, her gaze sharp and thoughtful, assessing the towering structure that had confined them for far too long. Her dark eyes gleamed with barely concealed anticipation, a hint of a smirk pulling at her lips. She was the first to volunteer for this escape, and her eagerness hadn't waned in the least.
