POV: Serena
The Riftline District never looked the same twice.
Tonight, it breathed heat and rust, the air warm against my skin as dusk gave way to a bruised indigo sky. The warehouses crouched low and wide, their roofs jagged with broken railings and rusted vents. Magic crawled beneath the streets like something wounded but awake, shifting restlessly, never settling.
I hated that I could feel it so clearly.
Elias landed beside me on the rooftop, light on his feet despite the satchel slung across his back. His dark curls were tied at the nape of his neck, sleeves rolled up to reveal faintly glowing sigils inked into his forearms. He smelled faintly of iron and herbs, alchemical residue clinging to him no matter how often he washed.
“This is the spot,” he said quietly.
I nodded.
The
