The next morning, Elias woke first, the soft light of dawn slipping through the curtains of the small cottage. The air was cool, the heater's gentle hum a comforting background noise.
He blinked, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings... the tiled floor, the cosy bed with its soft blankets, the shelves neatly lined with books and supplies.
"Oh! I'm still here,"
For a moment, he felt a flicker of peace, a rare sensation after days of running and worrying. But the weight of his situation quickly settled back in.
'If Viktor's looking for me. I can't stay here forever. I can't get these innocent people involved, but if Viktor catches me, he'll kill me. That's why he's going round, looking for me,'
He pushed the thought aside and got up, careful not to disturb Jace, who was still asleep, one arm flung over the pillow barrier.
