"We should leave, my lady. Everyone must be waiting," Mina said with a bright smile.
I nodded, then turned to Nyx, stretching my hand toward him. "Nyx, come on."
With a small flicker of magic, Nyx shifted into his small, fluffy cat form and leaped into my arms. His golden eyes glowed mischievously as Mina practically sparkled with excitement, her hands clenching into fists. "Nyx is so cute like this!" she gushed.
Nyx flicked his tail. "Let's go, Master, or else she'll start doing something crazy again."
I chuckled. "Alright, alright."
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward and walked out of my room. As I descended the grand staircase, the sight of my family waiting below stopped me in my tracks.
Father. Mother. Lora. Theodore. Leon. Tristian.
Leon stood near the staircase, his posture straight and his eyes sharp. But right now? Right now, he looked… stunned.
Then—
"H-Hold on, wait—" Theodore sputtered, his eyes nearly bulging out of his skull.
Silence.
