Chapter 21: Kael
Sensing her distress, Mitch stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her back against his chest. His embrace was warm and steady, an anchor in the storm of her emotions.
"It’s okay," he whispered against her ear, his voice gentle but certain.
Their shared adventures had woven their lives together in ways neither had expected.
What had begun as a chance encounter had evolved into something deeper, a partnership built on trust, mutual respect, and the kind of bond that only forms in the crucible of shared hardship.
Taking a deep breath, Leya turned the handle and pushed open the door.
The room beyond exceeded even Mitch’s expectations. Rather than the simple, functional space he had imagined, Kael’s room was a carefully crafted sanctuary.
Rich tapestries depicting pastoral scenes hung on the walls, and an ornate carpet covered the wooden floor.
Shelves lined one wall, filled with books, small trinkets, and carved wooden toys.
A massive stone fireplace dominated one corner, its hearth surrounded by comfortable chairs and a small table perfect for games or meals.
The furniture was clearly expensive: a four-poster bed with silk curtains, a writing desk of polished mahogany, and a wardrobe that belonged in a nobleman’s house.
An awakener certainly earns substantial coin, Mitch thought, though he couldn’t help but notice the underlying sadness in such opulence purchased with desperation rather than joy.
In the center of this carefully constructed comfort lay a small figure on the grand bed.