At Nova’s cabin, the world was still again—but the silence was no longer comforting.
Nova sat cross-legged on the couch, River nestled against her chest in a deep, dreamless sleep. His small fingers twitched every so often, but the energy that had exploded out of him was gone—leaving only exhaustion in its wake.
Kade paced across the living room like a caged wolf.
“He’s still out cold,” Nova whispered.
Sienna brought over a fresh cup of tea, setting it on the table. “He’s not hurt. He’s just tired.”
“He should be,” Kade muttered. “That kind of power… it’s not natural. Not even for a witch.”
“It wasn’t magic,” Nova said softly. “Not exactly. It was emotion.”
They both looked at her.
She brushed a hand over River’s curls. “I was angry. I was thinking about the Conclave. About how clo
