The night had fallen gently over the Winters estate, wrapping the vast house in soft shadows and silence.
The sky outside was a velvety blanket of midnight blue, dotted with stars that twinkled faintly like whispers of forgotten stories.
Inside the house, the mood was quieter still. Stefan was in their bedroom, seated on the edge of the bed, his fingers wrapped loosely around a mug of warm tea Martin had handed him a while ago.
He tilted his head slightly toward the window, listening to the sound of wind brushing against the trees.
Ruby wasn't there yet and he wondered where she was or what she was doing.
After a while, her footsteps echoed lightly down the hall, but instead of entering the bedroom, she paused at a different door and gently knocked before opening the door.
The door creaked open, revealing Rayna sitting on the edge of the bed, flipping through a magazine absentmindedly. She looked up, and a small smile curved her lips.
