Dinner was a sterile affair. The dining room, which was usually a place of warmth and shared laughter, felt cavernous and cold. The only sounds were the rhythmic clinking of silverware against porcelain, nothing else.

Kael watched Morvienne across the table. She was eating, but it seemed mechanical. She was also not sitting close to him like before.

Trying to bridge the growing chasm between them, he cleared his throat and attempted a light topic. "How's dinner? Enjoying it?"

He looked at her, hoping for a flicker of excitement, a small smile, anything.

But she didn't look up from her plate. She chewed slowly and swallowed. "Mm."

Kael's smile faltered....