(Isla)
The morning after Darius rode away, the air felt wrong.
Not bad. Just... watched.
Nyrawas up before me. “Someone’s here,” she said. “Not him. Not Zayden. Someone else.”
I was already dressed but my hands were steady.
The silver under my skin was quiet, but it was there like a second heartbeat.
Kieran knocked once and came in.
“Nightbane,” he said. “Messenger came alone at the border.”
My stomach flipped. “Darius?”
“No,” Kieran said. “Younger. Says he has a letter. Says he’s not to cross unless invited.”
I stood and the baby moved. “Ours”, Nyra said. “We’re ready.”
“Let’s go,” I said.
I walked to the border with Kieran in complete silence, I couldn’t only hear the sound of my heart beating.
It was the same stones and the same line but today the wind wasn’t waiting. It
