Delilah's Pov

The wheels hummed softly against the earth, a rhythm both steady and taunting. The inside of the carriage was quiet, save for the creak of the wood and the faint rustle of fabric each time one of us shifted.

Celia sat across from me, back straight, chin high, the morning light slipping through the small window and painting her hair gold. It was the first time we had been alone since everything that happened. I could feel the weight of her gaze even when she wasn't looking at me directly.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The silence was sharp enough to taste.

"You're awfully quiet,"...