MIREYA POV
I forced my eyes away from him, tightening my grip on my dress.
Focus.
This wasn't about him.
This was about surviving the night.
"Come on," Kaela said, pulling me gently further into the hall. "Let's not stand by the entrance like lost souls."
I let her lead me, but I could still feel it…
His gaze.
Even without looking, I knew he was watching.
We moved past groups of nobles and challengers, their voices blending into a soft hum. Laughter. Glasses clinking. Music rising and falling like a heartbeat.
But underneath it all…
Tension.
Everyone was aware of the visitors.
And then…
The room shifted.
The music softened slightly. Conversations dipped.
My eyes lifted instinctively toward the grand staircase.
They were coming in.
The Eldorians.
My breath caught.
They moved with a kind of grace I had never seen before. Their outfits were different…. lighter, flowing, almost… alive. And behind them…
Something else.
A presence.
Not just physical.
