Unedited Chapter, this chapter will be edited tomorrow
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Cael ignored Lysa's expression and turned away. He had said what he needed to say, and her reaction was not his concern. The morning light filtered through the trees, casting long, dappled shadows across the clearing. Dust motes danced in the golden beams, suspended in the still air. He took another bite of his apple, chewing slowly, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon where the city's skyline blurred into the haze.
The silence stretched between them, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. Lysa remained tied to the pillar, her jaw tight, her eyes burning with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. She had been played, and she knew it. Her pride had taken a hit far worse than her cheek. The rope bit into her wrists, a constant reminder of her defeat.
It did not take long before Luke arrived.
