The morning came gray and cold, with heavy clouds pressing down on the Starfall estate like a shroud. Ethan stood at his window, watching the mist rise from the gardens below. Even without enhanced perception, he could sense the tension in the air today. Something was coming—a conversation he had been expecting but dreading.
The soft knock at his door came precisely when he anticipated it. "Enter," he said, not turning from the window.
Lysander and Kaelan stepped into his chamber together, their faces set with the kind of determination that came from sleepless nights and difficult decisions. They had clearly spent considerable time preparing for this moment, steeling themselves for what they believed would be a challenging confrontation.
