***Alice POV***
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow that filtered through the high windows of my chamber. I lay on the plush bed, the fabric rich and deep, cradling me in a cocoon of safety. Beside me, Leo slept, his chest rising and falling rhythmically, the calm expression on his face a stark contrast to the storm of thoughts that brewed in my mind.
Just days ago, we had celebrated a monumental victory—the removal of the mating law that had held our love hostage for far too long. The Council’s decision felt like a weight lifted, yet I couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that nestled in the corners of my heart. The darkness that I had seen in my visions clawed at the edges of my consciousness, whispering of threats yet to come.
As I watched Leo sleep, I felt
