The ride back to the palace was silent, the forest fading behind them in a blur of trees and mist. Aliena's fingers still trembled slightly, clutching Sebastian's hand as he guided her through the corridors. The events in the clearing had left her mind buzzing, her heart still pounding from the white light, the transformation, and the weight of the wolf's words.
Sebastian, as always, walked with perfect composure, golden-red eyes scanning their surroundings, alert and calculating. He didn't speak, but the subtle tightening of his jaw suggested the gears in his mind were turning faster than anyone could imagine.
Miles rode slightly behind them, quiet, observing Sebastian with a mixture of curiosity and cautious amusement. "You really don't say much, do you?" he murmured to Aliena.
She gave a small, distracted smile. "Not when you're with him."
