Morning never truly reached Kane’s estate. Even with the sun climbing, the light that touched the mansion’s walls felt filtered muted by the dense canopy of trees and the lingering scarlet of the night before.
Aurelia woke to the echo of the bond, a rhythmic pull beneath her collarbone. It was quieter now, but constant, like the ocean’s tide pressing against the shore. She could feel Kane somewhere in the building, awake and restless.
The fire in her room had burned low. She rose, bare feet on the cold marble, and walked to the window. The forest beyond shimmered with dew and mist, beautiful and dangerous. Somewhere in that wilderness, her sister was still free or hiding.
A knock came.
When she opened the door, it wasn’t Kane. It was a tall, sharp-eyed woman in uniform black. “The Alph
