The place Caleb chose was old.
Not abandoned—remembered.
It lay beyond the trade road, tucked behind a rise of moss-covered stone where the forest bent inward as if guarding a secret. A narrow path led down to a hollow where a spring fed a small pool, its surface glassy and dark beneath the trees. Wildflowers threaded the edges, stubborn and quiet, blooming where few ever walked.
Lila recognized it the moment she stepped into the clearing.
Her breath caught.
“You brought me here once,” she said softly.
Caleb nodded, eyes fixed on the water. “Before everything broke.”
Seren had stayed behind with the children, giving Lila a look that said I’m here if you need me, and then turning away without comment. No hovering. No interference. Trust.
Lila stood a few paces from Caleb, arms folde
