I blink, watching as he pulls a set of keys from his pocket. "Where are we going?" The morning sun catches his eyes, turning them to molten gold, and there's something playful in his expression that makes my pulse quicken.
"My cabin in the northern woods," he says, a smile playing at his lips. "Just the two of us, away from everything else."
"But the Convocation is tomorrow," I protest, though my heart leaps at the thought of escaping with him. "Shouldn't we be preparing for the Ruling Alpha vote?"
His expression softens as he draws me closer. "Tonight is your Initiation into the Darkguard, under the full moon," he murmurs, his thumb tracing my cheek. "And tomorrow will bring its own challenges. That's exactly why I want this time with you—just us, just for today. Before everything else begins."
The tenderness in his voice makes my throat tight. He's right; we're standing on the edge of so much change, so many responsibilities. One quiet day together, one moment of peace before it all begins... I find myself nodding, leaning into his touch as he guides me to the forest path at the edge of Darkfang territory.
As we walk, the weight of everything settles around me, and I can feel Eira stirring, her presence warm and curious.
“Do you feel it, Talia?” Eira’s voice whispers, her tone filled with awe.
“Feel what?” I ask her silently, though I already know. There’s a quiet hum in the air, a sense of rightness that has settled within me since last night, since Lucian claimed me.