-Elara Voss:
The moment Lucien left, an odd silence settled between me and Ronan. I watched as he turned toward one of the rooms and pushed the door open without hesitation. He was still moving stiffly, his body tensed as if even breathing hurt.
I knew he was trying to act like he was fine. But he wasn't.
Without thinking twice, I followed him inside.
The room was surprisingly warm, lit by a single glowing lantern hanging on the wall. The bed was simple but large, covered in dark sheets. There was a fireplace in the corner, its embers flickering softly. It was cozy, but Ronan didn't seem to care. He just wanted to collapse.
As soon as he stepped in, he let out a sharp breath and rolled his shoulders, probably trying to ease the pain.
"Are you okay?" I asked, watching him carefully.
"I'm fine," he muttered, walking toward the bed. "Just go to sleep."
But the moment he tried to sit down, he hissed under his breath, a sharp sound of pain escaping through clenched teeth.
