I returned to the room quieter than I'd left it.
The hallway felt shorter on the way back but heavier. Every step echoed with what had just happened. My pulse had finally settled but the heat of adrenaline still hummed low in my blood. I rolled my shoulders once, smoothing my jacket before sliding the keycard in.
The door unlocked with a soft click.
Ayla looked up instantly from where she sat on the edge of the bed. Her shoulders eased when she saw me, relief fleeting. Then her eyes narrowed.
"There you are," she said. "What took you so long?"
I stepped inside, letting the door shut behind me. The room hadn't changed. The soft lighting still pooled across the carpet. The bed was still neat. But it felt different now. Smaller. Warmer. Charged.
"I ran into a delay downstairs," I said, keeping my voice even.
She rose and came toward me, her brows drawing together as her gaze landed on my face. Her steps slowed.
"Mira…"
