Chapter 38: Fragile Bond
Aria’s POV:
The moon hung low in the sky as Lyraeus and I made our way back to his hideout. The mission had been a painful reminder of the suffering my people endured, and the tension between us had only grown thicker. We walked in silence, the weight of our unspoken words pressing down on us like a heavy shroud.
When we finally arrived, it was well past midnight. The area was quiet, the flickering light of the dying fires casting long shadows. Ryker was waiting for us, his keen eyes taking in every detail of our return.
“You’re late,” he said, his voice a low rumble.
“We had to be careful,” Lyraeus replied, his tone curt. “There was a lot to see.”
Ryker nodded, his gaze shifting between us. “I can sense something’s off between you two. What happened?”
B
