Chapter 44: A storm in the blood
The manor was quiet. Too quiet.
Morning light streamed in through the high, cracked windows, glinting off the broken shards of glass and dried blood that stained the marble floor. The scent of scorched shadow still lingered from the battle with Thorne. Every corner of the once-glorious estate now felt heavier, as if the manor itself had absorbed the weight of war.
Cain stood by the window, shirtless, the claw marks across his chest barely scabbing over. He didn't flinch when Selene came up behind him, her presence soft, comforting. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his back.
"You haven't rested," she murmured.
"Can't," he said simply.
Selene didn't push. She just held him tighter.
Downstairs, the kitchen was a mess of breakfast prep and mild chaos. Leo had a banana in one hand and a dagger in the other, trying to chop vegetables without setting the kitchen on fire.
"This is why we don't let you cook," Eren grunted, rolling dough with magical telekinesis.
"Excuse me," Leo said, "my omelets are legendary."
"Legendary because they burned through the counter," Eira added from the corner. She was nursing a black eye, courtesy of yesterday's ambush, and sipping something that looked suspiciously alcoholic.
"It's tea," she said preemptively, catching Eren's look.