(Juriel)
I still haven't returned to the castle since I left after what I saw between Malik and Lyra. The days have stretched into a week, then a week into more days. Without a word, a sign, or a trace, I remained unseen, unheard, vanished from the awareness of the kingdom. The silence, although heavy, was a shield, a refuge from the inevitable questions and accusations that would surely follow if I had remained. I needed time, not just for reflection, but for a recalibration of my own emotions and expectations. Time to come to terms with what had happened and how I had reacted. I had to find my way back to the essence of myself.
I craved Malik's presence, the way his eyes held a knowing gleam, the comfort of his touch. Yet, my actions had pushed him away, and that gnawed at me. The qui
