109: Too good to be true

Alora’s POV

After the heaviness of our conversation began to settle into a more comfortable silence, I felt Rune’s grip around me loosen, though he kept me close.

It was small, almost imperceptible, but something that always reminded me that, despite everything, Rune was human. There was something soft within him, even if the rest of the world only saw his dark, brutal side.

I shifted slightly on his lap, pushing myself back enough to look at his face. He gave me a small, tired smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes, but it was there. And that was enough for now.

"Remember when we used to sneak out of the packhouse during the summer?" I asked, my voice gentle as I recalled the memory. "You’d drag me to that clearing in the woods where no one could find us, just to stargaze. You always swore you could see shooting stars."

Rune’s lips twitched upward, his eyes flickering with a hint of nostalgia. “That’s because I did see shooting stars. You were just too busy talking abou