chapter 14
Elena moved faster than thought. The moment the force released her, the world narrowed to a single point—her son. Nothing else mattered. Not the figures watching. Not the pressure in the air. Not the silent, suffocating weight of something ancient studying her every move. Just him. She crossed the distance in a blink— And this time, nothing stopped her. Her arms closed around him, pulling him tight against her, her body instinctively turning, shielding, anchoring him against her chest as if the world itself might try to take him again. For a second— Just a second— Everything went quiet. “Mama…” his voice was small, but steady. Elena’s eyes shut briefly, her hand cradling the back of his head. “I’m here,” she whispered, the words softer than anything she had said since the night b
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