Immediately after Mona spoke, a heavy silence settled in the room. Alex felt a shift—something subtle but unmistakable. Nyxara, who was perched on his shoulder, turned her head toward him, her amber eyes meeting his. They held each other's gaze for a moment longer than usual.
It wasn't a look of confusion or casual curiosity.
It was awareness.
She also wanted to know.
Alex's gaze settled on her, the warmth of her presence, once a soothing anchor against his neck, now radiated a subtle tension.
He could feel it in the slight rigidity of her muscles, in the delicate, rhythmic flick of her tail brushing against his back. It was clear she was deeply engaged in this conversation, her attentive demeanor hinting at the weight of the subject, one that intertwined with her history.
