KAEL
My head was heavy by the time we climbed the stairs, every step dragging the weight of the day behind me. Everything still clung to the back of my skull, the stench of boardroom politics sour on my tongue. The mask I wore all day felt like it had been stapled to my face, and even here... following Aria into this modest building that didn't belong to my world, I couldn't peel it off.
Her apartment door opened to noise. Warm noise.
A muffled voice echoed from somewhere inside. "Kaleb Matthias Thorne, you better stop running around and put your toys away before I—"
The voice cut off, only to bark again, closer this time. I almost smirked. Olivia, I guessed.
Aria stepped in first, her tone calm as always, announcing with deliberate softness, "I'm back. And I brought a guest."
