VIVIAN Zander’s voice came out firm, like there was no room for argument. He turned toward Isla and her mom, his eyes steady. “You both will stay here with Priestess Tanya,” he said. “Do not leave this house for any reason. This is the safest place for you right now. I’ll keep in touch and tell you when we all go after Andromeda.”The words made the air shift. I looked at Isla, already knowing she would not take them quietly. Her lips pressed together as if she was holding back what she really wanted to say, but her eyes told the truth. She hated being told to stay behind.Her mom, on the other hand, didn’t argue. She only lowered her head slightly, like she trusted Zander’s word more than her own fears.But Isla… Isla wasn’t like that.She raised her chin, her voice sharp and restless. “Why wait?” she asked. The words hit like sparks. “I already know where that woman lives. I know when she’ll be at home. Why should we waste time sitting here when we could finish this right now?”Bef
VIVIAN We all made our way to the garden, and the air in that region was cooler than I expected. The faint scent of flowers mixed with the fresh grass made it feel calm, almost peaceful. Derek walked just ahead of me, and Zander was close by, watching us like he was trying to figure out what was going on inside Derek’s head. Lucas trailed behind while talking over the phone with Wendy, my sister. It had been a while since I last saw them. After all this, I made a mental note to visit my family. Or have them visit me. Derek found a spot near the wooden bench in the garden and turned to me with a grin, his eyes twinkling in a way that made it hard to tell what he was thinking. “Alright, Viv,” he said, rubbing his hands together like he was about to perform some kind of show. “Let’s make this fun. I’m going to tell you some jokes.” I raised an eyebrow, knowing I wasn’t in the mood for jokes, but I nodded anyway. It wasn’t like I could say no. He probably thought this was his way o
VIVIANWe all made our way to the garden, and the air in that region was cooler than I expected. The faint scent of flowers mixed with the fresh grass made it feel calm, almost peaceful.Derek walked just ahead of me, and Zander was close by, watching us like he was trying to figure out what was going on inside Derek’s head.Lucas trailed behind while talking over the phone with Wendy, my sister. It had been a while since I last saw them. After all this, I made a mental note to visit my family. Or have them visit me.Derek found a spot near the wooden bench in the garden and turned to me with a grin, his eyes twinkling in a way that made it hard to tell what he was thinking.“Alright, Viv,” he said, rubbing his hands together like he was about to perform some kind of show. “Let’s make this fun. I’m going to tell you some jokes.”I raised an eyebrow, knowing I wasn’t in the mood for jokes, but I nodded anyway. It wasn’t like I could say no.He probably thought this was his way of cheer
VIVIANWe all made our way to the garden, and the air in that region was cooler than I expected. The faint scent of flowers mixed with the fresh grass made it feel calm, almost peaceful.Derek walked just ahead of me, and Zander was close by, watching us like he was trying to figure out what was going on inside Derek’s head.Lucas trailed behind while talking over the phone with Wendy, my sister. It had been a while since I last saw them. After all this, I made a mental note to visit my family. Or have them visit me.Derek found a spot near the wooden bench in the garden and turned to me with a grin, his eyes twinkling in a way that made it hard to tell what he was thinking.“Alright, Viv,” he said, rubbing his hands together like he was about to perform some kind of show. “Let’s make this fun. I’m going to tell you some jokes.”I raised an eyebrow, knowing I wasn’t in the mood for jokes, but I nodded anyway. It wasn’t like I could say no.He probably thought this was his way of cheer
VIVIANWe all made our way to the garden, and the air in that region was cooler than I expected. The faint scent of flowers mixed with the fresh grass made it feel calm, almost peaceful.Derek walked just ahead of me, and Zander was close by, watching us like he was trying to figure out what was going on inside Derek’s head.Lucas trailed behind while talking over the phone with Wendy, my sister. It had been a while since I last saw them. After all this, I made a mental note to visit my family. Or have them visit me.Derek found a spot near the wooden bench in the garden and turned to me with a grin, his eyes twinkling in a way that made it hard to tell what he was thinking.“Alright, Viv,” he said, rubbing his hands together like he was about to perform some kind of show. “Let’s make this fun. I’m going to tell you some jokes.”I raised an eyebrow, knowing I wasn’t in the mood for jokes, but I nodded anyway. It wasn’t like I could say no.He probably thought this was his way of cheer
VIVIANWe all made our way to the garden, and the air in that region was cooler than I expected. The faint scent of flowers mixed with the fresh grass made it feel calm, almost peaceful.Derek walked just ahead of me, and Zander was close by, watching us like he was trying to figure out what was going on inside Derek’s head.Lucas trailed behind while talking over the phone with Wendy, my sister. It had been a while since I last saw them. After all this, I made a mental note to visit my family. Or have them visit me.Derek found a spot near the wooden bench in the garden and turned to me with a grin, his eyes twinkling in a way that made it hard to tell what he was thinking.“Alright, Viv,” he said, rubbing his hands together like he was about to perform some kind of show. “Let’s make this fun. I’m going to tell you some jokes.”I raised an eyebrow, knowing I wasn’t in the mood for jokes, but I nodded anyway. It wasn’t like I could say no.He probably thought this was his way of cheer