The heir has returned.
The words echoed through my mind.
Not spoken.
Not imagined.
Felt.
They seemed to move through my bones before fading into silence.
I couldn't breathe.
Across the office, Richard stared at me.
The crystal in my hand had gone dark.
My pendant was cooling against my skin.
But the sensation remained.
Something had awakened.
And somehow—
it knew me.
"Lara?"
Richard's voice sounded far away.
I looked at him.
"What happened?"
"I..."
How was I supposed to explain it?
Clarissa remained unnaturally silent.
"Clarissa?"
Nothing.
Fear twisted through me.
"Clarissa."
"I'm here."
Relief hit instantly.
"What was that?"
A pause.
"I don't know."
"You felt it."
"Yes."
"What did it mean?"
Her answer came quietly.
"I think something recognised us."
The
