The sun rose over Black Hollow in muted gray light, casting long shadows across the estate’s ruined courtyard.
Midnight stood at the edge of the training grounds, snow crunching beneath her boots. Every nerve inside her hummed, taut with energy she could barely contain. The events of the night before had left her exhilarated and terrified at once.
Kael appeared beside her silently, as he always did, and she flinched slightly. Not out of fear. Out of habit. Out of instinct.
“You slept at all?” he asked, voice low, almost teasing—but with a deadly undertone.
“I tried,” she muttered, glancing at the snow-streaked training area. “Couldn’t keep the nightmares from… following me.”
Kael’s eyes darkened, silver glowing faintly in the pale morning light. “Nightmares aren’t what you need to fea
