Lucian's pov
At dawn, I was already at Elara's chambers.
I entered without knocking expecting to see her still asleep, instead she was exactly where I had left her the night before, seated by the window, still wearing the same dress.
She hadn't slept a wink.
"It's dawn." I said.
She simply stood up and turned toward me.
"Let's go," she whispered.
She followed me toward the door, moving like a porcelain doll being pulled by invisible strings.
I stopped at the servant's quarters, looking for a familiar face. "Where's Mai?"
"It's her day off, Alpha," a passing guard stammered, nearly tripping over his own feet to bow. "She went to the village for supplies."
I let out a low breath and then looked at Elara.
"Fine," I muttered, grabbing her arm. "I'll handle it."
I led her toward the bathing chambers. I waited for the human modesty to finally kick in and give her a reason to fight me. But when we stepped into the room, she just stood by the steaming water, waiting.
