271
~Thorne's POV
The knock came just as the candles burned low. The faint orange light flickered against the stone walls, and I looked up from the map spread across my desk. I had been staring at the same line for nearly an hour, trying not to think about the silence that had taken over since I heard that Luke was on his way back to the palace.
Another knock. This time, softer.
"Enter," I said.
The door opened, and Luke stepped in. His head was bowed, hands behind his back, his voice steady but quiet. "Alpha."
"Luke," I said, sitting back in my chair. "You took long."
He walked closer, stopping just before the table. "I went to see Damon as you ordered."
My heart tightened. "And?"
He hesitated. I could see it in his eyes, the thing he was about to say wasn't good.
"Speak, Luke," I said, my voice sharper now.
He nodded quickly. "Damon said he wasn't ready to meet with you today. He asked that you come again next time."
My brows furrowed. "Next time?"
