Aurenya’s POV
The darkness stayed.
No fire. No light. Just breathing.
Mine came too fast.
The cabin felt smaller without sight—walls closing in, shadows pressing too close. Somewhere near me, Arinya shifted. I heard the scrape of her shoe against the floorboards.
“Mama?”
“I’m here,” I said quickly.
My voice sounded thin.
Rhydan’s hand stayed locked around my arm, steady and warm, like he expected me to collapse again.
Outside, nothing moved.
That was worse.
The Shadow Wolves should’ve attacked already.
They should’ve torn through the doorway the second the lights went out.
But they didn’t.
They were waiting.
And I knew exactly who they were waiting for.
A pulse rolled through my chest.
Sharp enough to steal my breath.
I grabbed Rhydan’s arm instinctively.
He felt it imme
