CHAPTER 77 — THE COST OF BLOOD AND LOYALTY
The silence after the call lingered long after Elena lowered the phone.
It pressed against the walls of the room, settling into the corners like a presence of its own. Even the familiar hum of the estate felt muted, as though the house itself was holding its breath.
Adrian did not rush her.
He stood where he was, giving her the space to breathe, to steady herself, to decide what pieces of the conversation she was ready to let exist outside her own mind. That restraint—his ability to wait—was something she had come to recognize as one of his quiet strengths.
"He sounded the same," Elena said at last, her voice low. "As if nothing has changed."
Adrian nodded slowly. "Men like him don't believe time applies to them."
She let out a faint, humorless breath. "He spoke like this was inevitable. Like we're all just following a path he laid out years ago."
Adrian stepped closer, stopping in front of her. "Paths can be altered."
