~ Seraphina’s POV ~
The evening air hung heavy around me, thick with the scent of pine, damp earth, and wood smoke from the torches burning in Silver Moon’s courtyard. Normally, those smells felt familiar... a small comfort in a world that rarely stayed steady. But tonight… they made my stomach turn.
An uneasy feeling gnawed at me, a restless, creeping tension I couldn’t shake. It clung to my skin like a shadow, too close, too quiet.
The sigil on my shoulder pulsed in sharp, angry bursts. No water, no salve, no command of mine could dull the burn. I pressed my palm against it, biting down on my lip to keep the hiss of pain from escaping.
It was a cruel reminder, etched into my skin, of how deep bonds could turn into shackles.
I don't know why, but I feel like something was wrong.
I
