“Drink a little more, honey,” she urged.
I obeyed without thinking, taking small sips. The coolness was soothing, like it was washing the rawness from my throat.
Ichika sat back a little, studying me carefully.
“I know you’re scared,” she resumed, her voice steady. “I would be too. But listen to me, Amber — you’re stronger than he is. Always have been. You didn’t just survive him... you built something he could never touch. You raised Evalie into the sweetest, brightest little girl I’ve ever seen.”
She brushed a stray hair from my face, her eyes fierce now.
“Rayne has no power over you anymore. He’s just a ghost from your past, trying to claw his way into the light you made.”
I swallowed hard.
"But what if he tries to take her?" I whispered, my voice breaking again. "What if he... h
