#Chapter 209: Thirty Days

Olivia Nathan and I walked the distance back to our home in silence. The events of the day seemed to weigh him down, his broad shoulders slightly hunched and his stride slightly slower than usual. I stole glances at him, noticing the furrow of his brows and the slight tension of his jaw. The door to our home clicked shut behind us, and the familiar scent of our safe haven enveloped me. Nathan exhaled audibly, like he had been holding his breath throughout our journey. He leaned against the door, looking more exhausted than I had ever seen him before. But there was a glint in his blue-green eyes—a sort of satisfaction, perhaps, that he had taken a stand against the absolute rule of the Elders, even if doing so was a gamble. … The muted light of dusk gently poured into the room, casting a serene glow that seemed to wrap around us like a comforting embrace. Elliot and Aurora, swaddled in soft blankets, lay nestled on the plush living room rug between Nathan and me.