The night air carried a strange silence that did not belong to the forest. Even the crickets had gone quiet, and the usual whisper of the wind had vanished. Isabella stood by the window, her hands resting on the sill as she stared into the distance. The moon had begun to rise, full and hauntingly red, painting the world outside in shades of danger.
Lucian was behind her, his presence strong yet uneasy. He had not said much since dusk. His eyes, once calm and calculating, were restless tonight. He had learned to sense when the curse stirred within him, and this time, it felt different. It was not his own pain he sensed but something else entirely. Something ancient, familiar, and dark.
Isabella turned to face him, her heart tightening at the sight of his strained expression. “Lucian, you
