The journey had been a relentless blur of ash, adrenaline, and the bone-deep ache that comes from defying death. We had stared down titans and walked through the literal throat of a volcano, but as the heavy oak doors of the sanctuary creaked open, I felt a different kind of tension.
The air inside smelled of crushed eucalyptus and sandalwood. Waiting for us were the Elven women I'd hand-selected and trained. They stood like statues of silk, their flowing uniforms catching the light as they bowed in perfect unison.
"Lady Seraphine," they murmured, their voices a melodic ripple.
I let out a breath I felt I'd been holding since the last kingdom. I gestured toward them with a lazy wave of my hand. "Prince Ford, meet the massage girls. They will be saving my sanity today. Or what's left of it."
