The sunrise felt unreal.
After everything.
After the Hollow King. After Malakar. After Azhrael. After the throne.
The simple sight of sunlight spilling across the mountains nearly stopped Midnight in her tracks.
She stood on the balcony overlooking Black Hollow as golden light spread through the forests below.
The town was waking.
Smoke curled from chimneys.
People moved through the streets.
Life.
Ordinary life.
The thing she'd almost forgotten existed.
Midnight leaned against the railing and closed her eyes.
The breeze felt different now.
The world felt different.
For the first time in her life—
nothing was pulling at her.
No abyss.
No prophecy.
No ancient voice whispering through her blood.
Only silence.
Peaceful silence.
The balcony door slid open behind her.
She s
