Chapter 246

DEREK’S POV I watched Aurelia’s face carefully, the way her shoulders tensed when Kael also agreed that her sister might have orchestrated the distraction. Her wide eyes, her silence—it was too much for her to carry right now. And truthfully, I couldn’t say for sure. Maybe it had been a coincidence. Maybe not. How would Seraphina have even known where we were going or when we were leaving? It had been a sudden plan, one we hadn’t shared with anyone except her father—because we needed his permission first. Either way, I wouldn’t add to the burden already pressing down on her. “Don’t think too much,” I said gently, my voice steady, firm enough to cut off the spiral of thoughts I saw threatening in her eyes. “You’ve been through enough tonight. Just rest for a while.” Her lips parted like she wanted to argue, like she had questions boiling inside her, but exhaustion weighed heavy on her face. She simply nodded, lowering her gaze to her blanket, her fingers tightening over the fabric. Kael