Elena
*****Nightfall — Camp Beyond the Ruins*****
The fires were smaller tonight.
Controlled.
No screams. No collapsing towers. Just the quiet crackle of flames and the low murmur of warriors setting camp among ash and broken stone. The twins were finally asleep, wrapped in cloaks too big for them, their breaths even against my chest. Finn had one fist tangled in my shirt. Fia’s fingers twitched now and then, like she was dreaming of something she couldn’t escape.
I didn’t try to pull away.
I needed to feel them breathing.
Because the silence felt wrong.
Too heavy.
Chase sat across the fire from me, his wound bound tight, his shoulders stiff like he was afraid to move too much and remind himself he was still alive. He hadn’t looked at me properly since the battle ended. Every time
