And then his eyes landed on her.
A lone figure sat stiffly in the chair beside the bed, her back turned toward him. Her dress was loose and long, covering every curve, every inch of skin, as though she were hiding herself from others.
Julian raised a brow in amusement. What woman sits in the breeding hall with the posture of a nun?
He stepped forward. "Erica… is that you?"
The figure did not move, did not speak anything. Silence filled the room, long enough for him to tilt his head in curiosity. He could hear the faint sound of her breath, the sound of her shifting in her seat and finally, after what felt like an eternity, her voice broke the silence.
"…Yes. I am."
Julian's grin widened, the sound of her voice confirming the suspicion that had been dancing in his mind ever since Riya mentioned her name. He circled closer, his shadow now stretching until it touched her where she sat.
