Not an hour had passed before Dydra's mind dragged her back into the Elite's secret study. The dream felt indistinguishable from reality. She stood on cold stone, fully aware, her body moving as she descended the narrow stairwell that led into darkness. She expected to see his shadow waiting for her, to hear his calm voice asking what business she had there, just as before. Instead, two red dots stared back at her from the depths of the room, burning intensely.
Her heart skipped. "M-My lord… i-is that you?" she asked, her voice uncertain, though a part of her desperately hoped it was him. The only answer she received was a low snarl that crawled up her spine. Panic seized her, and she began to step backward, careful at first, until her foot struck something unseen in the dark. She fell hard onto the stone, pain shooting through her as the air left her lungs.
