One year later.
Midnight sat on the roof.
Again.
It had become a habit.
Whenever life felt too loud, too complicated, or too wonderful for her brain to process properly, she climbed onto the roof of the house and watched the stars.
Tonight was one of those nights.
The sky stretched endlessly above Black Hollow.
Clear.
Bright.
Peaceful.
Thousands of stars glittered across the darkness.
The same stars that had watched:
ancient wars
fallen kingdoms
impossible sacrifices
new beginnings
And somehow they felt different now.
Closer.
Friendlier.
The world itself seemed lighter.
Midnight smiled softly.
The mate bond pulsed.
Warm.
Familiar.
"You know there's a perfectly good porch."
Midnight laughed before she even turned around.
Kael climbed onto the roof with all the grac
