Elara's fingers tightened together even harder.
For several long seconds, she said nothing.
The silence between us became unbearably heavy.
Then slowly—
she stood up from the bed.
I immediately rose after her.
"Elara—"
"No."
Her voice came out softer than I expected.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Just… conflicted.
She turned away from me quickly, hugging her arms tightly around herself as she walked a few small steps toward the window.
Moonlight spilled faintly across her silver hair.
And for the first time since meeting her—
she looked frightened.
Not of me.
Of the secret itself.
"Heaven knows I want to tell you," Elara whispered quietly.
The honesty in her voice stunned me into silence.
She laughed weakly afterward, though it sounded painfully close to breaking.
"Honestly… if it were anyone else asking, I probably would've already said too much."
Slowly, she turned her head slightly toward me.
"But I can't betray my brother."
The words landed softly.
