C171 A Finely Crafted Plan

She turned back to Asmodeus, grasping his hand with a firmness that surprised him, and pulled him to his feet. With a swift motion, she brushed the dust from his clothes. He stared at her in quiet amazement, marveling at this new side of her—a fierce, unyielding force tempered by her pain.

At the edge of the balcony, Beast stood silently, his expression a mixture of grief and frustration