The pale dawn light crept through the narrow window, casting warmth across the room. The silence of the early morning was broken only by the soft rustling of fabric as Val and Yara began preparing for the day ahead.
Val stood at the window, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes fixed on the horizon. His jaw was set, his expression unreadable, but Yara had known him long enough to recognize the frustration etched in it.
he didn't need to ask to know what he was thinking.
Rian. His offer. The fact that, despite everything, they had no choice but to take it.
Yara exhaled slowly and focused on securing the last of their supplies. Their bags were already packed, their weapons checked and ready. The weight of what lay ahead settled over her, but it wasn't the journey that left her uneasy—it was Val. He hadn't spoken much since last night, and when he had, his words had been clipped, sharp-edged with something unspoken.