Eli’s POV
The world outside was steeped in darkness. Night had descended rapidly, devouring any remains of warmth. I stood on the edge of the debris, the cool wind piercing into me like a knife. The dust has begun to settle around what used to be a stronghold of terror and manipulation—a shattered monument to my father’s sick ambition. But as I saw the ruins, I realized this wasn’t the end. It was only the start of something darker.
I felt Eli’s presence alongside me before he spoke, his warmth pouring through the chill. “He’s not gone,” he whispered quietly, his voice both a comfort and a threat. “You know that, don’t you?”
I nodded, my throat constricting. “He always finds a way.”
Eli’s hand found mine, squeezing gently. “We’ll be ready.”
Would we? I wasn’t sure. My f
