Claire's POV

Damian stared her down before answering without a shred of hesitation.

“Yes.”

A single word. Heavy, blunt, and absolute.

Grace froze. She searched his face, refusing to believe her own ears.

Then her gaze flicked to me.

Finally, it locked onto the crown.

Her lips parted, but she was entirely speechless.

Beside her, the young healer hung his head.

One guard shifted uncomfortably near the bed.

I caught the movement.

I hated myself for noticing.

Grace swallowed hard. When she spoke again, her voice was barely a whisper.

“Then I really was gone too long.”

A deafening silence crashed over us.

Heat flushed up my neck. My hand...