Karin froze mid-step and slowly turned, cautious, toward the approaching group.
At the front was Mira. The sight of the elven princess made Karin's brow tighten; her fingers curled into a fist, ready to strike if needed.
"I'm curious," Mira said calmly as she stepped ahead of the others, "how did you make it here?"
Kieran and the others immediately noticed Karin's attire, but something else caught his attention.
"A member of the Ravenspare family?" Nasha murmured, studying her closely.
Karin's eyes flicked to Mira's companions in surprise.
'Why are they with her?' she thought, suspicion sharpening in her gaze as it moved over them.
Kieran's eyes met hers briefly, questions forming behind his calm expression. 'How is she a god candidate?'
And Karin, sensing something from him, felt it too. 'Is he the second god candidate?' The realization hit her instantly.
Recognizing Kieran gave her just enough certainty to voice the question weighing on her mind.
