Inside Gillian's private quarters at the palace, the air was still and heavy.
The thick velvet curtains had been pulled shut tight against the biting night air, blocking out the dim streetlamps of the capital.
The room had been carefully inspected beforehand to ensure that no listening devices, hidden objects, or lingering magic had been planted anywhere within. Only once they were satisfied that nothing had been left behind did they settle down to speak.
Iryna sat casually on the edge of the desk, swinging her legs back and forth as she rested her chin in her hand. She had shrugged off her dark cloak and tossed it over a nearby armchair, looking much more relaxed after their long day.
"The kids at the orphanage were cute today," Iryna remarked softly, a rare softness warming her sharp eyes. "It's surprisingly quiet down there compared to the noise in the palace."
