Lily’s POV
I didn’t understand what was happening—not at first. One moment, Leo and I were laughing, tangled in the grass after another round of hide-and-seek, and the next, the world didn’t feel safe anymore.
The men in the trees shouldn’t have been there. Their faces were sharp and unfamiliar, their movements too calm for the chaos they brought with them. I could tell from the way Leo tensed that he saw it too.
“Stay behind me,” he said, reaching back to grab my hand.
Leo always acted like he had to protect me. He was only seven—just two years older—but he carried himself like he was already grown. I didn’t argue. I just squeezed his hand tightly and stayed close.
The memories after that blurred together. I remember the way the man’s voice sounded, soft but cold, as he lied about ou
