AURORAThe celebrations continued long after the ceremony ended, but sometime after midnight I slipped away from the Great Hall.The fortress had finally grown quiet.The music had faded into the distance, replaced by the familiar sounds of the night. A cool breeze drifted through the gardens surrounding the packhouse, carrying the scent of pine and wildflowers.For the first time in months, I wasn’t running toward danger.I was simply walking.It felt… nice.“I had a feeling I’d find you here.”I turned to see Lucien approaching along the stone pathway with his hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers.He wasn’t wearing armor anymore.Neither was I.For once, neither of us looked like warriors.We looked like siblings who had spent far too many years as strangers.“You escaped too?” I asked with a smile.He nodded.“I’ve never enjoyed parties.”“I noticed.”A quiet laugh escaped him before he stopped beside me.For a few moments, we simply stood together, watching the moonlight
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