Nobody moved for a second.
That second felt longer than it was. The kind of long that happens when your body already knows something your brain hasn't caught up to yet. Aelara could feel it in her chest, the same low hum that had pulled her out of sleep the night before, but heavier now. Closer. Like whatever was down there had been quiet on purpose and had just decided to stop.
Vaelor moved first.
He went for the far end of the corridor without saying anything, and Caelum fell in beside him without being asked. That was the thing about those two, the way they operated in these moments, no discussion, no plan announced out loud, just movement. Aelara followed. Lyra was right behind her.
Seraphine did not move from where she was sitting against the wall.
Aelara looked back at her.
"You're not coming?"
