The flap of fur parted.
Lady Nyra returned.
She looked… refreshed. Cleaned up. The blood from Fina's flying kick had been washed away, though the faint bruise on the bridge of her nose told the tale. Her robes were tighter now—tied for drama, for power, for control. But she still walked with that subtle stiffness… the kind that only came after being pounded stupid and pretending you weren't.
Her eyes flicked over the trio.
Allen still bound.
Rinni still clinging to him like a maiden to her war hero.
Fina crouched beside him, her tail lazily swishing as if she hadn't just been scheming to rip the whole fox clan apart from the inside.
Nyra's lips curled.
"Have you two come to your senses?" she asked smoothly, arms folded beneath her chest.
Fina rose first.
She stretched like a jungle cat—slow, sinuous, her hips swaying with every movement. Then she gave a mock bow, her eyes slanted in sly amusement.
