LOGINFor a beat, no one spoke. Then, he lowered Kaelani gently until her feet touched the ground, but he didn’t let go—his fingers slipping into hers, holding on like it was the most natural thing in the world. Kaelani’s gaze dropped to their hands. The contact stilled something inside her. No one ha
“You do.” He let his gaze drop—just for a second—to the space between them, the inches that still separated them. Then back to her. “But I meant it when I said I’d never leave you again… that was real.” A brief pause—not for effect, but because he meant it. “Not when it’s hard. Not when it’s me
Kaelani’s smile hit him harder than anything else had. For the first time, it was meant for him. Julian stepped into the room, closing the door quietly behind him and shutting out everything beyond it—the chaos, the noise, all of it. In here— was his peace. His heart. His whole world. He move
The room. The light. The faces. A breath caught in his chest. “Kaelani…?” His focus sharpened. His room. His packhouse. Familiar walls and scent. But something was wrong. His gaze moved quickly—his mother at his side, Jace by the window. No Kaelani. Julian pushed himself upright, pain tear
She didn’t look at him. “Julian Hale… fugitive status removed.” Another keystroke. “Jace Romano… fugitive status removed.” Her fingers paused for a fraction of a second before continuing. “Garrick Blake… charges dropped.” A quiet tap followed. “Release scheduled for… tomorrow morning.” Then—
A brief pause. “Am I wrong?” Councilor Voss didn’t answer. He simply watched her for a moment longer before speaking. “What is it that you want?” Kaelani held the room for a moment. “What I wanted the day I stood before you in the Chamber of Elders,” she said. “What I asked for then.” “To liv
Jace stirred with a low groan, shifting against the damp grass at the lake’s edge. For a moment, he didn’t know what had woken him—only that the air felt different. Cooler. Lighter. The brutal heat of the desert had loosened its grip, replaced by a fragile calm that felt almost unreal after everyth
Seelie guards lined the corridor. Dozens of them. They were frozen mid-motion—caught in a single heartbeat of chaos. Some leaned forward as if running. Others had weapons half-drawn, expressions twisted in alarm or fury. Cloaks flared behind them, hair lifted as though by a wind that would never f
They bolted. Branches whipped at Julian’s face as they tore through the undergrowth, boots pounding over roots and stone. The forest exploded into motion behind them. The sentinel charged. Fast—far too fast. Its footsteps weren’t heavy; they were wrong, a rapid skittering thud that gained ground
A shape shifted behind the leaves. Tall. Too tall. Its outline warped as it moved, stretching unnaturally, as if the shadows themselves were trying to stand upright. The whispers spiked, overlapping into something almost gleeful. Julian took a step forward. “Jace—wait—” The shape lunged. Jace







