The festival ended long after midnight.
The lanterns had disappeared into the sky hours ago.
The music had faded.
The fires burned low.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Black Hollow slept without fear.
Midnight should have been asleep too.
Instead, she sat on the roof.
Again.
Some habits survived the apocalypse.
The night air was cool.
The mountains were quiet.
The stars stretched endlessly above her.
Every one of them present.
Every one of them remembered.
The throne beneath Draven Ridge pulsed softly.
Not enough to interrupt.
Just enough to remind her that she wasn't alone.
Not anymore.
The mate bond glowed warmly.
Kael was inside.
Pretending to sleep.
He'd perfected the art of pretending to sleep while actually monitoring everything within a ten-mil
