"If that's how you're going to act…
…then I'll leave."
Elara didn't move. Couldn't, really.
Not with her pulse roaring against her ribs and her thoughts still half-knotted around all the things she couldn't say—not without giving herself away.
Lucavion reached the edge of the path. The place where stone gave way to frost-dusted grass. And for a moment, she thought that was it. That he'd vanish into the mist like he always did—too untouchable, too impossible, too far.
But then, without turning back, he spoke again.
"Here's a final piece of advice," he said, voice lower now, steadier. "If you really want to clear your head…"
A pause.
Not for drama.
Just breath.
"Stop thinking so much."
That made her blink.
And then—
"That's half the reason you're here in the first place, isn't it?"
The moment the words left his mouth—"That's half the reason you're here in the first place, isn't it?"—something in Elara stilled.
A pause inside her.
