Nina's eyes remained fixed on the box, her pulse quickening with every passing second. Was that it? Was that the earthstone?
A deep frown settled on her face. There was nothing. No warmth. No strange pull. No surge of power. Not even the faintest trace of magic brushed against her senses. Something was wrong.
When Rodrigo stepped inside, the sound snapped her out of her thoughts immediately.
"You're back," she said, sitting upright as she forced a smile to her lips, but it vanished almost as quickly when she saw the look on his face.
He wasn't smiling.
His expression was unreadable as he entered the carriage and took a seat opposite her. The atmosphere shifted instantly, becoming heavier, tighter.
Nina remained perched on the bench for a moment before she lifted her eyes to him again. "I was worried about you," she said quietly. "I couldn't leave without you, so I asked the lycans to wait." Her voice lowered to something soft, a tremble at the edges.
