The waiting room of Dr. Selene Hart’s private practice smelled of lavender and aged leather. Elowen sat on the edge of a cream-colored armchair, twisting the strap of her purse until her knuckles turned white. She had barely slept after Lilith’s threatening call and Draven’s unanswered video request. Sophia had stayed the night, but the moment her friend left this morning, the walls of the hotel suite had closed in again.
“Ms. Ravencroft?” A warm, steady voice called from the doorway. Dr. Selene Hart was in her early forties, with sharp cheekbones, kind hazel eyes, and an air of quiet authority. “Come in.”
Elowen followed her into the sunlit office. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined one wall, while a large window overlooked a peaceful garden. She sank into the soft couch opposite the th
