The nightmare hit hard.
One moment she was asleep.
The next—
Magic.
Screaming.
The smell of smoke.
Celestine's voice.
"To weaken him, we take what he loves most."
Rowan jerked awake.
Breathing hard.
Her heart pounding.
For one terrifying second she was back in the woods.
Back on the ground.
Back surrounded by rogues.
Then strong arms tightened around her.
"Rowan."
Kael.
The sound of his voice cut through the panic immediately.
Reality rushed back.
The room.
The bed.
The warmth.
Him.
She closed her eyes.
Taking a shaky breath.
"It's okay."
His hand moved slowly through her hair.
Gentle.
Patient.
"I'm here."
The words shouldn't have affected her so much.
But they did.
Because he was.
He'd come for her.
He'd stayed.
And somehow, despite everything, he was st
