*Runze's POV*
The gates close quietly behind us.
The sound echoes faintly through the car before dissolving into the familiar hush of the estate grounds.
Home.
The word settles somewhere deep inside me, heavy and real. Bael's arm remains around my shoulders, his palm resting against my back as though he hasn't quite convinced himself that we are finally here.
Only when the car rolls to a smooth, silent stop right beneath the main entrance does he slowly loosen his hold.
Neither of us moves immediately. We sit in the quiet of the vehicle for a heartbeat, letting the reality of our arrival sink in. The driver steps out first, his door opening with a dull click, and a moment later a guard opens our door.
Cool air drifts inside, cutting through the warm stillness of the interior.
Bael climbs out first. He stands on the stone driveway, turning back toward me and extending his free hand without a single word.
I take it.
