The palace halls were quieter now, the laughter of the suitors fading into distant murmurs as they drank themselves into comfort. But the silence did nothing to settle the storm in Telemachus’s chest as he walked briskly through the corridors, searching. He found her tucked behind one of the stone pillars in the courtyard, shoulders hunched, arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to vanish into the marble.

“Hey,” he said softly, voice dipping low so it wouldn’t startle her. She didn’t look up. Telemachus’s chest tightened. He crouched beside her slowly. “I’ve been looking for you.”