When I first heard about Dr. Sofia Byrne coming to town, I didn’t think much of it. Blackwood had a way of drawing outsiders, scholars and mystics intrigued by the town’s tangled history. But when I finally met her, I knew she was different. She had an air of sharp, unyielding curiosity, and the way she looked at Luca and me… it was unsettling.
The first time we crossed paths was at the library, of all places. I was stocking some dusty old books, still adjusting to this new quiet life with Luca, when I noticed a tall, thin woman at the desk. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, her expression poised and focused as she spoke to the librarian. Her dark eyes were intense, scanning the room as if she could peel back its secrets with just a glance.
When her gaze met mine, I felt a shive
