I barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Seraphine’s voice.
Come.
It wasn’t a dream.
I knew it wasn’t.
When the first light of dawn crept through my attic window, I slipped the silver ring onto my finger and hid it beneath my sleeve.
Today, I had to act as though everything was normal.
Tomorrow night…
I would return to the forest.
“Elara!”
Mother’s voice echoed through the house before I had even reached the kitchen.
“The grain sacks need to be taken to the estate.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“And after that, clean the guest rooms.”
I nodded quietly.
Father looked up from the table.
“The Blackthorn Alpha is staying another few days.”
My hands froze.
“He is?”
“There are still questions about what happened in the northern forest.”
Tristan scoffed.
“He’s wasting his time.
