Serena’s fever burned relentlessly, her body trembling as she clutched the charred pendant from the Witch’s Sanctuary, its faint warmth a fragile lifeline. The cloaked figure’s chilling words—*“You shouldn’t be here, fire witch”*—echoed in her mind, intertwining with Hart’s triumph at forcing her to reject Gary and Jack. The Sloan mansion’s oppressive walls seemed to close in, amplifying her fear that her illness, tied to her unbound fire witch powers, was spiraling beyond her control. Mia had stayed by her side until dawn, but now, alone in her room, Serena felt the weight of her choices crushing her.
A soft knock jolted her. She tensed, expecting Hart’s smug intrusion, but Gary’s voice came through, laced with worry. “Serena? Mia told us you’re worse. Can I come in?”
She hesitated, the
