The last note of the divine office hung in the air, shimmering, then slowly dissolved into the hushed sanctity of the chapel.
A collective sigh, barely audible, rippled through the pews as the ethereal sound faded.
Aiden's wives, along with a few other scattered worshippers, lingered for a moment, caught in the afterglow of the melody.
Then, one by one, the other attendees began to stir, gathering their things, their footsteps soft as they shuffled towards the chapel's arched exit.
Aiden rose from the pew, his tall frame uncoiling. His wives followed, a vibrant tapestry of colors and personalities.
He moved with purpose towards the front, where a figure in a simple black nun's habit stood, her back to them.
Her long, pitch-black hair, gleaming with a silky shine, tumbled down her back in loose waves, visible beneath the white wimple.
