The drive back to my cabin felt longer than usual, my thoughts tangled with everything that had happened at the diner. My conversation with Jace had left me with more questions than answers, and no matter how many times I replayed his words in my head, I couldn’t quite make sense of it all.
I pulled up in front of the small cabin, cutting the engine before stepping out into the crisp evening air. The sky was painted in hues of deep orange and fading blue, and the scent of pine and damp earth surrounded me. It was peaceful here—quieter than anywhere I had ever lived. But tonight, that quiet felt heavy.
As I approached the door, I wasn’t surprised to find a familiar figure leaning against the porch railing. Nolan. He straightened at the sound of my footsteps, his sharp gaze scanning me as
