The forest was too quiet.
Not the stillness of peace—but of held breath. Of something waiting to strike.
Amelia stood at the edge of the ravine behind the den, her skin still prickling with the echo of that otherworldly voice: Soon.
She hadn’t told Raze about it. Not all of it. She couldn’t. Because she wasn’t sure what it was… and because part of her didn’t want to let it go.
The truth nestled somewhere inside her ribcage, coiled and humming. A thing with teeth. A thing that knew its name.
She was changing. And not even Raze could stop it.
Behind her, a twig snapped.
She didn’t turn. “I told you to leave me alone.”
Raze exhaled, slow and strained. “And when have I ever listened?”
Amelia clenched her jaw. “Cain said I’m heir to the Deadlands.”
Raze flinched.
“So it’s true.”
He
