Throughout the entire drive, Jace remained silent while Cyrus and I engaged in light conversation. It turned out to be a six-hour journey. At some point, I must have drifted off to sleep, as Cyrus gently woke me up when we were about forty-five minutes away from our destination.
“Athena, my dear, we’re nearly there—just under an hour to go.” His voice was gentle as his hand rested reassuringly on my thigh.
"Oh, I apologize; I didn't intend to doze off," I said as I wiped the sleep from my eyes. As I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, the fading sun cast a warm glow over the landscape, illuminating the hills that framed the road. I could feel the palpable excitement in the atmosphere, aware that the journey ahead would require a significant adjustment for both myself and those around me.
As
