By the time they arrived at the Moonshade estate, the last light of day had turned soft and amber.
The wide gates opened without a sound, and the long, winding path up to the main building was lined with lanterns already glowing with warm, golden light.
The estate wasn't flashy. It didn't try to show off. But the quiet elegance of it—the way the trees were trimmed, how the stone steps felt like they'd been placed one by one with care—it gave a different kind of welcome.
Ethan walked between the twins, hands in his pockets. He wasn't tense as he had been here countless times.
But his mind was still sorting out the way the day had unfolded, from the stage to the expressions on the crowd's faces.
From the silence of the crowd to the quiet invitation for dinner.
They reached the main doorway. It slid open before any of them could knock.
And standing there, in the glow of the foyer, was Elowen.
She wasn't in her usual robes.
