Elara POV
That same night, while Kaelen waited on the ridge, I stood at the entrance to the old wall and felt my heart betray me before my mind could catch up.
The parley had ended at noon. Mira and I walked back through Theron's lines without speaking. Every step was watched. Every shadow felt loaded with intention. No one stopped us. No one needed to. They just let us go like we were a promise already made.
At the boundary, I sent the messenger to Kaelen with my words written silver on his palm. *Safe. Cannot return tonight. This is my choice.* I needed him to know I wasn't trapped. That I was choosing this deliberately, not because I had to, but because I'd decided it mattered more than safety.
Mira wanted to argue. "You don't have to do this. We can go back. Face whatever comes."
"I do," I said, touching the scroll hidden against my ribs. The fuse burned inside me like a second heartbeat. "If I don't stabilize tonight, there might not be a tomorrow for any of us."
