Loreen's POV
Loreen walked out of the hall and into the corridor, his pace quick but not rushed. His boots echoed lightly against the floor as he made his way toward the east wing.
The palace felt different during the day, quieter and more open, but Loreen barely noticed any of it as his thoughts were already ahead of him.
Three days.
Three days without seeing Sairis.
It had been longer than he expected, longer than he liked. The memory of that night still sat fresh in his mind. The words. The way Sairis had spoken in front of everyone without fear. The way he had looked at the king without backing down.
And the way he had looked after it was all over.
Loreen exhaled slowly as he reached the stairs. He stopped there for a moment, his hand resting lightly against the railing.
Then he took a deep breath, but there was a quiet anticipation building in his chest. Something he refused to name, as he climbed up.
