Morning came far too quickly after yet another sleepless night. The echoes of Spike’s unexpected return reverberated through my mind, leaving me restless and consumed by a million questions. How had Phoenix brought him back? And more importantly, what would this mean for all of us? I couldn’t afford to dwell on these questions for long, though. I had responsibilities—massive, daunting responsibilities.
Rolling out of bed, I ran a hand through my tangled black hair and let out a sigh. The house was alarmingly quiet for this time of morning, a rare occurrence when you have four lively children. Making my way to the bathroom, I splashed some cold water on my face in an effort to wake myself up and clear my thoughts. My reflection stared back at me, looking as tired and worn as I felt. Dark
