Delilah's Pov

I just wanted to breathe.

After leaving the council hall, I thought going straight to Malric's chambers would be the safest thing to do, but I couldn't. My head was heavy, my chest tighter than it had ever been, and the weight of too many stares still clung to my skin.

So I walked.

The long hallways of Velmora were silent, the soft torches along the walls throwing golden shadows across the cold stone floors. I thought maybe if I kept walking, maybe if I let my legs lead me somewhere, the thoughts would quiet down. But they didn't.

I didn't expect to hear it...the muffled moans. At...