The front door creaks open, the sound cutting through the silence like a knife. Keal's eyes snap toward the sound, his body tensing despite the exhaustion that weighs him down. For a split second, relief washes through him, so potent it almost brings tears to his eyes. Finally. Nora.He lets his head fall back against the wall, the rough wood scraping against his skin, and forces a crooked grin onto his face despite the blood staining his clothes and pooling beneath him. "Hey, mate," he says weakly, his voice rough with pain. "Miss me?"Nora freezes in the doorway, the basket in her hand slipping slightly before she catches it. Her eyes widen, but not with relief or concern—shock, pure shock, flashes across her face before disappearing almost immediately. Her face hardens, her features transforming into a mask of cold fury."What the fuck are you doing here?" The hostility catches him off guard, his smile faltering as he registers the venom in her voice."What kind of welcome is that?
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