Kora’s POV
The ride back from the ruins was silent, heavy with a kind of dread that no one dared name out loud. The Keeper’s words echoed through my head like a curse—you hold half, the other half sleeps within your shadow.
Aaron.
Even the thought of his name made my stomach twist. The air felt colder now, sharper. Every tree, every whisper of the wind seemed to carry his presence, as if he were somewhere close, watching, waiting.
Edward rode beside me, silent but alert. His hand brushed against mine on the reins more than once—small, fleeting touches that said what neither of us dared to speak: I’m here. Don’t break.
Behind us, the convoy moved like a wounded beast. The wolves carried the fallen, the witches whispered soft blessings, and Mara barked low orders that sounded more like
