Chapter 46: The Call That Changes the Air
The next morning broke with a strange stillness — not the eerie kind from before, but the kind that comes right before something shifts. Emery woke to the faint sound of Brent’s voice in the living room, low and steady, but edged with something she couldn’t quite place.
She slipped out of bed, wrapped herself in one of his flannels, and padded down the hall.
Brent stood by the window, phone pressed to his ear, his free hand braced against the wall. His shoulders were tense, his jaw tight. He didn’t notice her at first.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “I understand. Thank you for letting me know.”
A pause.
“No. I’m not backing down.”
Another pause.
“Yeah. I’ll be ready.”
He ended the call and stayed still for a moment, staring out at the frost‑cove
