Axel stepped out of Isla’s room, his usual warm smile fading the moment the door clicked shut behind him. The dimly lit corridor outside was quiet, and the soft creak of his boots against the stone floor echoed faintly in the stillness. Gone was the gentle, caring man who had spent the last two weeks comforting Isla with kind words and steady reassurances.
A female guard stood at attention nearby, her sharp, dark eyes watching his every move. The guard, Selene, was one of his most trusted enforcers, someone who had seen the real Axel, not the façade he had carefully constructed for Isla’s benefit.
Axel reached up, pulling off the simple tunic he wore and tossing it to Selene. Beneath the humble clothing was a luxurious black and silver outfit, lined with intricate embroidery that denoted
