LILA’S POV
The night felt… wrong.
Not quiet. Not peaceful.
Wrong.
Like the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to break.
I stood at the highest ridge overlooking our territory, the wind tugging at my hair, my wings half-unfurled behind me. Below, the lights of our camp flickered softly warm, alive, filled with people who had chosen to stay… to believe in something new.
In me.
That thought should have comforted me.
Instead, it terrified me.
Because I could feel it.
Something coming.
Something bigger than Ryker. Bigger than the council. Bigger than anything we had fought before.
And for the first time in a long time…
I wasn’t sure we were ready.
“Couldn’t sleep either?”
Nathan’s voice came softly from behind me.
I didn’t turn.
“I don’t think sleep exis
