The call came to Julian in the dead of night.
He was pulled from sleep by a sensation he'd never felt before—a burning in his chest, a heat that radiated outward like the embers of a dying fire. It wasn't painful, not exactly. But it was urgent. Demanding. A plea for help that couldn't be ignored.
Sarah woke beside him, her hand finding his in the darkness. "Julian? What's wrong? You're burning up. Your skin is actually hot to the touch."
Julian sat up, his heart pounding against his ribs. "There's something out there. A world. A world that's on fire. It's calling to me. It needs help. I can feel it screaming."
Sarah was already reaching for her clothes, her movements quick and determined. "Then we go. Together. Like we always do."
Julian looked at her, the warmth in her eyes groundin
