I reached out with the magic that permeated this place, the same power that kept the roses blooming and the lights dancing through the forest. The gates responded to my will, ancient mechanisms stirring to life with the smooth precision of clockwork that had never known rust or wear.
The sound of their opening carried clearly across the courtyard—not the grinding protest of metal against metal, but a whisper of perfectly balanced forces moving in harmony. Catherine stepped back slightly, but she didn't flee. Didn't even flinch.
She's accepting it, I realized with a mixture of relief and growing hunger. Whatever she sees, whatever she feels, she's choosing to stay.
The gates swung wide, revealing the entrance hall beyond. I'd deliberately kept the interior lighting warm but subdued, know
