Fruits

Lucius stepped out of the bathroom, water still dripping from his hair, his eyes narrowing as he wiped his face with a towel. The warm glow of the early morning sun filtered through the thick curtains, but there was something off in the air, something that made the usual peace of the palace feel unsettling.

Kiara should have been here by now.

His thoughts immediately shifted to the training session. She was always prompt, always eager to push herself. But today, there was no sign of her.

He tossed the towel aside and walked toward the door, his movements brisk, his mind already racing. Something wasn't right. He had felt it the moment he stepped out of the bathroom—the absence of her presence.

He moved quickly, striding down the hallway, his boots clicking against the marble floor. His eyes scanned every corner, every empty room he passed, his heart starting to quicken with a sense of urgency.

"Kiara?"