The morning after the Echo was sealed was strangely... peaceful.
No trembling ground. No howling spirits. No unexpected magical combustion. Just the scent of dew, the chatter of birds, and Saffy screaming from somewhere down the hill, “I FOUND THE PANCAKES!”
Luna stirred under a thick wool blanket, sunlight threading through the cracked windowpane of the old cabin Mira had dragged them to post-Echo-smackdown. Her muscles ached. Her soul felt like it had run a marathon while dragging a reluctant Knox behind her.
Speaking of—
She turned.
Knox was still asleep beside her, arm curled possessively around her waist like even in unconsciousness, he was warding off shadowy intruders. His brow was relaxed. Peaceful. And for once, not scowling.
Which meant Luna had roughly five minutes before
