Chapter207:Broken Bond

|| Alaric's POV || Morning light spilled through the castle windows, golden and mocking. I hadn't slept. I stood outside Lilac's chamber, my palm pressed flat against the cold wood of the door. Behind it, Aurora babbled happily, the sound mixing with Lilac's soft laughter. The normalcy of it made my chest ache. Taking a steadying breath, I pushed the door open. Lilac sat on the floor with Aurora in her lap, stacking wooden blocks into a wobbling tower. She looked up as I entered, her smile faltering when she saw me. That tiny hesitation—the way her fingers tightened around Aurora—cut deeper than any blade. "Good morning," I said, keeping my voice carefully neutral. She nodded, polite but distant. "Morning... Alaric" Her words were empty. As if we hadn't spent months learning the rhythm of each other's hearts. Before I could respond, hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. Benson and Lyra appeared in the doorway, their faces drawn with worry. Behind them, Madeline, Elara and Astrid hove