Ivy’s POV
The morning came slowly, dragging a pale gray light through the thick clouds outside the window. I hadn’t slept. My body was tired, but my mind had stayed wide awake, thoughts turning over again and again. Everything felt too loud inside my head—Ronan’s words, Kiernan’s silence, Selena’s lies.
I sat curled on the edge of the bed, knees pulled to my chest, a blanket wrapped tightly around me. The air was cold, and the fire in the hearth had died sometime during the night. Still, I didn’t move to relight it. I just watched the flames that weren’t there.
I didn’t know what time it was when the door opened softly. Kiernan stepped in without saying a word. He looked like he had been up all night too. His shirt was wrinkled, and his hair was messier than usual.
He walked over and p
