Morning came too soon.
Sleep barely lasted long enough to matter, leaving the night pressed beneath my skin. By the time light filtered through the trees, I was already awake, staring ahead while my thoughts churned endlessly.
Daylight changed the clearing.
Damage had settled into everything—the ground, the air, the way people moved. The witches were already working, voices low, movements precise, carrying themselves with quiet purpose.
I pushed myself up and stepped outside, testing my weight carefully. My knee held, though the ache lingered with every shift, and I adjusted automatically, settling into a rhythm that carried me through it.
Kael stood outside, his attention fixed beyond the clearing. He never turned, yet I felt the exact moment he noticed me.
Ronan remained near the e
