Kaelor’s POV
The silence after her scream didn’t feel natural.
It felt wrong.
Like the house itself was listening.
Kaelor stood frozen in the hallway outside Aurenya’s room, every muscle locked tight beneath his skin.
He had heard pain before.
He had heard wolves die.
He had heard warriors beg for mercy.
But that sound—
That sound had gone straight through him.
Rhydan shoved past him first.
Of course he did.
The door slammed open hard enough to hit the wall.
Kaelor followed immediately.
And the moment he stepped inside, he stopped.
The room felt colder.
Not normal cold.
A heavy kind.
A pressure.
The candles near the windows flickered violently, flames bending sideways despite the lack of wind.
Aurenya sat upright on the bed.
Breathing hard.
Eyes wide.
But she wasn’t
