The chamber was silent, save for the slow, rhythmic hum of the dagger’s runes. It pulsed in time with Elena’s heartbeat, each flicker of light sending a cold shiver down her spine. She could still feel the remnants of the vision clawing at the edges of her mind—the burning city, Kael’s lifeless body, the overwhelming sense of loss.
But none of it was real. Not yet.
“Elena.” Kael’s voice was steady but urgent. His fingers pressed lightly against her shoulder, grounding her in the present. “What did you see?”
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. She couldn’t tell him—not now. Not when the fear was still fresh in her chest, wrapping around her like invisible chains.
“Nothing,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was nothing.”
Serin’s eyes narrowed. “That was
