The candlelight flickered across the stone walls of the manor, casting long shadows that danced like memories just out of reach. Alaric stood outside Adrianna's chamber, his hand raised, hesitating just before knocking.
For all his centuries of war, diplomacy, and pain, this moment unnerved him.
Not because he feared her reaction—but because deep down, something about her had always felt familiar. Like a song half-remembered from another life.
He finally knocked.
Adrianna's voice came from within, soft but clear. "Come in."
He pushed open the door.
She was sitting near the window, dressed in a dark velvet robe, hair still damp from the bath earlier. The fire behind her cast a soft halo around her form. She didn't turn to look at him immediately.
"I know why you're here," she said quietly.
Alaric stepped inside, letting the door shut gently behind him. "Then you know we need to talk about what happened today."
