"Are you tempting me to let you walk home in this storm?" he asked, his voice carrying a thread of dry amusement. "It's freezing, and with your… delicate build, I fear you might turn to ice before you make it to your doorstep. It's called being a proper gentleman, Cora."

Cora blinked, her lips parting in stunned offense when he referred to her as 'fragile' in his own so-called perfect terms.

The nerve.

But as she glanced out at the gray sheet of rain and the puddles forming along the gutter, not to talk of the temperature, her pride warred with practicality. No matter how long she'd lived in the North or how much she liked to boast about resilience, rain like this always defeated her.

It soaked straight through bone and willpower. On days like these, she longed for the comfort of a warm hearth, a wool blanket, and the musky scent of old pages between her fingers.

That life hadn't been possible under Thadius's command, hence, comfort had been a luxury. But now that she was free and under the rule of someone better, she saw no reason to deny herself the small mercies she'd earned.

Exhaling softly, she wrapped her cloak tighter around her. "Fine," she muttered, glancing up at him before averting her gaze when she couldn't stand his. "Let's go then."

As they stepped onto the path together, all Cora could hear was the thunderous rhythm of her heartbeat.

This was just an escort. Nothing more. And for some reason, she kept repeating the words like they would do anything to hush the awareness of his nearness. He was close- too close. The scent of him wrapped around her like the lingering warmth of a hearth fire. Clean, earthly, and faintly spiced. It felt comforting in a way that made her chest ache.

Determined to keep her focus, she turned her gaze to the slick cobblestone road ahead, where a sudden sight made her slow, and her brows lifted in quiet surprise.

Cursed warriors moved past them on tall, dark horses, the rain sliding off their cloaks and skin as if the storm was afraid to touch them. They wore no protection, no hood nor armor to keep them dry. Only their silent pride and stillness made the air around them feel heavier than it should.

Further up the road, others flanked a supply carriage, steady hands guiding it toward the capital. Heavy crates were tucked beneath tarps, all protected with care. It was the first time she'd seen her northern people working side by side with the cursed ones after the invasion of the demon wolves, and did it feel her heart with a quiet peace.

A soft smile broke across her lips.

"It eases my heart," she said quietly. "Seeing people warm to the idea that your brother's pack aren't the villains they feared. If this peace holds, the North could truly flourish. Perhaps the rest of your brother's pack might even come—"

"As hopeful as that sounds," Leonardo interjected, slowing down in his steps as if being by her side was second to his nature. "I doubt they'd abandon the land that sheltered them. The Damned is rightfully theirs. They built it from ruins and shaped it into something powerful. It's all they've known since everyone else turned their backs on them during the disaster. The only reason my brother remains here is because of Esme."

Cora simply gave a small nod, already knowing the truth of it. Her heart ached for those who still lived with fear covering their steps– afraid that they all might be condemned if they ever stepped into Illyrian soil.

What the Illyrians didn't know was that their fears, if left unchecked, could stir the true bearer's curse within its victim. She silently prayed that none of them would have to face such darkness ever again- that perhaps, in time, they could all be free.

"It makes sense why Luna Esme trusted them with reconstruction," Cora uttered, her voice hushed with wonder as her eyes roved over the restored stonework lining the road. "After the attack, I remember the capital was more damaged since it led to the main building Alpha Thadius always rots himself in. But now… it's like the bones of the city are stronger."

She glanced at Leonardo beside her, curiosity flickering in her gaze as the rain pattered softly on his dark umbrella.

"Their architects are unlike any," he murmured, his tone thoughtful. "The Damned is beautifully structured as well."

"I believe that," she said with certainty. They turned into a broader, quieter pathway where the clamor of the capital faded into the sound of distant rainfall. Here, the world felt still. Her home came into view at the edge of the cobblestoned path, and the windows glowed faintly through the mist.

When they made it to the stone steps, Leonardo shook out his umbrella and lowered it, the water flicking off its edges. Cora had stepped ahead and tried to open the door, only to find it locked.

"Looks like Uncle is not back home yet," she said, reaching into her purse for the spare keys tucked in her velvet pouch. She slipped it into the lock and turned it with a soft click. The door creaked open, releasing a breath of warm air within.

"Would you like to come in and warm up for a bit?" She asked, glancing over her shoulder at him. "I was going to put the kettle on anyway. Just one cup to warm you before the road."

"You're not planning to kidnap me, are you?" Leonardo asked, half-joking as he pulled off his boots. The invitation was too warm to decline, even if staying hadn't been on his agenda.

He stepped inside, and Cora closed the door. "Kidnapping has gone out of fashion around here. Lucky you."

The door clicked shut, sealing them both in the cozy warmth that greeted them. The scent of pinewood lingered in the air, faint but distinct. A soft glow from the hearth painted the room in amber light.

"Uncle must've just gone out," she noted as she strolled across the room, her steps soft on the wooden floor. "The fire is still well-fed."

Leonardo glanced at the hearth. It was obvious he didn't plan to stay long wherever he went, since he still left the hearth burning too. His attention shifted to Cora when she held out her hand, requesting for his coat. Wordlessly, he shrugged it off and placed it in her grasp, catching himself noting how natural this small ritual felt. He was only starting to get to know her, yet she seemed to be growing on him faster than any other woman ever did. He even let himself linger longer than he planned to, and he knew better than to think he was being just gentlemanly at this point.

His gaze followed her as she hung his coat neatly on a wooden peg and leaned his umbrella beside it. She disappeared through a nearby doorway, and he wondered where she was going.

Left alone, he allowed his gaze to wander. The room was modest but inviting– books stacked near the hearth, an embroidered throw folded on a chair, and the scent of something herbal tucked in a corner.

His eyes found a portrait framed in dark wood atop a cabinet, and it held a moment frozen in time. A family gathered close, the parents standing tall behind three little girls. Cora's uncle lingered at the side, stiff but with a protective aura.

Leonardo studied their smiling faces. He didn't touch the frame, or felt the need to. But among the girls, he found Cora instantly.

She was the only one without a smile.

The picture must have been taken before she was separated from her family.

"I heard the Luna is returning today," Cora's voice drifted into the room like a soft breeze, prompting him to turn around.

The heavy fur coat she had worn earlier was gone, replaced by a more refined outfit. She wore a high-necked, long-sleeve dress of dusky blue linen that clung gently to her form, cinched at the waist with a delicate sash that hinted at her silhouette without revealing too much. The fair sheen of the fabric caught the firelight, making her seem almost ethereal.

In her hands was a simple cup of tea, steam curling into the air as she approached, calm and composed as usual. He took her in– every understated detail– and for a moment, forgot whatever it was he'd meant to say.

He must still be exhausted from all the workings Donovan had made him deal with during Esme's absence, and that must be the reason his mind was currently messed up today.

"Can you repeat that?" He asked distractedly, receiving the cup she offered. His almost absentmindedness earned him a subtle frown from her. She crossed her arms, her posture shifting into something sharper. That look. That one that almost made his nerves buzz with unease. Why was she staring at him like that?

"What?" he muttered, feigning ignorance.

"Aren't you usually the most alert and annoyingly self-aware person in the room?" She shot back. "What's got your head in the clouds today? Or are you still paranoid I might lock you up somewhere in the middle of the night?"

For the first time, she saw him laugh. It sounded dry, but still, there was a sudden brightness to his expression when he did so. "Hilarious," he mumbled after taking a sip of his tea, careful not to meet her eyes again.

"I asked," Cora repeated patiently, though her tone hinted at a growing concern. "If the Luna is expected to return today, do you think things went well between her and the king? Honestly, I've been worried sick about how she's doing over there."

"The king won't hurt her," Leonardo assured her with certainty. "But as for the peace treaty– I doubt it was approved. If it had been, we wouldn't be preparing to leave for Mariana in haste. My brother knows something's up."

"How would he know?"

Leonardo leaned against the back of a chair, his voice calm and unbothered as he replied. "She's his mate. You really think anything that happens to her escapes his notice? He knows. Maybe not the details of it. But he definitely knows. If you think about it too, the journey wouldn't commence if the king had agreed to cooperate. Instead, we'd be figuring out how each one of the borders can help bring down the true bearer, together, but with this sudden shift? It says everything."