"Magnus," Aria's soft, childish voice called from the doorway. I looked up from the documents on my sit to see her standing there, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the chandelier. Her innocence was almost disarming, but I couldn't shake the storm brewing within me.
"You released her?" I asked, my tone colder than I intended.
She nodded, and before I could say anything more, Selene walked past, heading toward the guest wing. My eyes narrowed at her disheveled appearance. She looked like something that had been dragged through the depths of misery. Her face was pale, her hair matted, and her posture hunched, making her appear as if she were aging rapidly.
"Selene!" I called out, my voice laced with disdain. She stopped in her tracks and turned to face me, her face a mixture of fear and defiance.
