Ava was lounging in the suite, the warm ocean breeze filtering through the open balcony door, when her phone buzzed sharply against the bedside table. The rhythmic crash of the waves outside had lulled her into a rare moment of peace, but the moment she saw the name flashing on the screen—Dad—her stomach clenched with unease.
She hesitated before picking up, pressing the phone tightly to her ear. "Hello?"
"Ava." Her father’s voice was as firm as ever, laced with authority and expectation. It was a voice that had dictated her life, shaped her into who she was—or at least, who she used to be. "I need you back home by the end of the week. There's an assembly for hunters. Your presence is required."
Ava felt an instant chill despite the tropical warmth that surrounded her. Her fingers tight
