Page 114 of Unravelled
A gentle touch brushed against her shoulder. Mira stirred, sleep clinging to her like mist, thick and unrelenting. The warmth of it wrapped around her, heavy, pulling her back down.
But the fingers against her arm were patient, careful, coaxing her toward waking.
“Mira.” Ren’s voice, low, quiet.
She blinked, the golden light of morning filtering through her lashes. The space behind her was empty. The warmth of the night had long since faded, leaving only the cool imprint of where Ren had been.
Her fingers brushed over the sheets, finding them cold, untouched. He sat at the edge of the bed, already dressed. The deep green of his shirt caught the morning light as he ran a hand through his hair, his shoulders tense, his posture weighted with something unspoken.
Mira sat up slowly, her body aching in places she hadn’t noticed before, exhaustion still dragging at her limbs.
She hadn’t seen the room last night, had barely noticed anything beyond the grief and weariness that had swallowed her whole. But now, with the morning sun filtering through the heavy velvet drapes, she took it in.
The room enveloped her in deep greens and muted golds, warm and rich, like the rest of Ren’s quarters. The walls were carved dark wood, etched with twisting vines and delicate leaves, a reflection of the palace’s grandeur, but softened by his own touch. The tall, arched windows framed the light in long golden beams, casting a quiet glow over the heavy drapes, green velvet woven with bronze threads that shimmered with the movement of the breeze.
Nature touched everything. The fixtures above, shaped like winding branches, cast shifting shadows across the ceiling, swaying gently with the morning light. But beneath the beauty, there was something still. Untouched. She exhaled slowly, dragging her gaze back to Ren.
Mira looked at Ren's face. A tiredness she knew hadn’t come from sleep alone was all over him.
“Did you sleep more than a few hours last night?” Mira asked.
Ren gave a small, sad smile but didn’t answer. Instead, he shifted slightly. His fingers brushed gently along her temple, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear with absent care.
Then his hand lingered for a breath longer than it should have. His gaze held hers.
“I’m so sorry, Mira,” he said, voice low and raw.
The words undid something in her. The tears came again, fresh and silent. Ren pulled her into him without hesitation, his arms wrapping around her as though trying to hold the pieces together himself. She buried her face into his shoulder.
He said nothing. Just held her. One hand moved slowly along her back, his touch steady, anchoring. He didn’t speak, didn’t rush her. He simply stayed, silent and solid, until her breathing slowed and the storm inside her began to quiet.
Only then did he speak softly, as if afraid to disturb the fragile calm. “The council is meeting this morning.They’re gathering to discuss the attack.”
Mira nodded slowly, the words settling in her mind like stones sinking into water. “Of course, I’ll be okay on my own.” Ren paused before grimacing.
“You’re required to attend.” He said it quietly, but the weight of those words landed like a blow.
Mira froze. She turned to him, brows furrowing. Ren’s gaze had dropped. But the tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders squared as if bracing for impact, told her this wasn’t just some formality.
“We need a Solwynd on the council.” he said softly, his gaze lifting to meet hers with quiet weight.
There was no pressure in the words.The only surviving representative. She hadn’t noticed the ring in his palm until now, a simple silver ring darkened with age, engraved into the surface like a quiet vow, guiding stars. Their points stretching outward, reaching, searching. A solemn reminder of the family that had represented before her.
Slowly, he took her right hand, his fingers steady as he slid the ring onto her fourth finger. She swallowed hard, her chest tightening, her thoughts dragging her back, to the blood-soaked ground, to the weight of Torvyn’s body in her arms, to the moment everything had shattered.
Ren must have seen the shift in her expression because his voice softened. “Mira...”
But she didn’t let him finish. “I’ll meet you there,” she said, the words distant. " I just...I need some time alone..." She turned away before he could say anything else, before he had to see the pain that flickered behind his eyes.
Ren nodded, “I collected some of your dresses from your quarters,” he said quietly. “They’re in the closet.”
Mira hesitated for only a second before nodding. She didn’t move as Ren stepped closer. He paused beside her, then bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. She closed her eyes as he stepped into the hall.
The room was silent. She crawled beneath the blankets, pulling the covers over her head as if they could shield her from the weight of the world.
And there, in the stillness, she let it come. The sobs hit her in waves. Quiet at first, then shaking her shoulders as the pain broke free. For Torvyn. Her brother. Gone. She buried her face into the pillow and wept.
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