The rich aroma of Emberstone Stew drifted through the lively tavern, wrapping the air in a warm, earthy scent laced with a hint of something sweet and hard to place. The room was alive with chatter, clinking mugs, and the soft crackle of a hearth fire.
As Olivia and Sienna-Rose stepped inside, dozens of curious eyes turned toward them, intrigued by the presence of strangers—especially ones who carried themselves with such quiet grace.
A waitress approached their table, dressed in the revealing, flamboyant fashion typical of Talastra. Her movements were slow and deliberate, clearly meant to be noticed.
Olivia's fingers tightened around Sienna-Rose's hand, memories flashing through her mind—warnings from the other wives not to let Sienna Rose coming back home with another wife, fears whispered late at night.
The waitress smirked, catching the tension in Olivia's gaze. "Relax, sweetheart," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "I'm not here to steal your lover."
