The rest of the evening passed in strained silence. Alariel kept her distance, her back turned toward the others as she lay on her bed, pretending to sleep. Celene remained restless, her eyes frequently darting toward the door, her instincts on high alert. And Esteria—she simply sat by the window, staring out into the night, the moonlight casting long shadows across the floor.
Hours passed, the room bathed in the pale glow of the moon. Esteria had finally drifted into a fitful sleep, but Celene was still awake, her thoughts racing. She couldn't shake the image of the cloaked figure, the brief exchange she had witnessed. Something wasn't right, and she intended to find out what it was.