Chapter 21

Hannah’s POV

Something felt… wrong.

Not painful.

Not exactly.

Just

Off.

I shifted slightly on the bed, staring up at the ceiling again.

Sleep wouldn’t come.

No matter how hard I tried.

My body was tired.

Exhausted, even.

But my mind

It wouldn’t rest.

Every time I closed my eyes, I felt it.

That strange pull.

Like something was calling me.

Soft.

Distant.

But there.

I sat up slowly, pressing a hand against my chest.

My heartbeat was steady.

Too steady.

Almost like it wasn’t reacting to anything at all.

“This is weird…”

I muttered under my breath.

The room was quiet.

Too quiet.

Tianna had left hours ago after making sure I ate and took whatever herbs she brought.

I told her I was fine.

Again.

Another lie.

I swung my legs off the bed carefully, standing up.

For a second, everything spun.

Then settled.

“I’m okay,” I whispered, more to convince myself than anything else.

I walked toward the window slowly.

Each step felt… lighter than it should.

Not weak.

Not heavy.

Just

Different.

When I reached the window, I pushed it open slightly.

Cool air rushed in, brushing against my skin.

And for a moment

Everything stopped.

My breath caught.

The feeling came again.

Stronger this time.

My fingers gripped the edge of the window.

“What is that…?”

It wasn’t outside.

Not exactly.

It felt like it was coming from…

Everywhere.

A soft ringing filled my ears.

Low.

Almost like a whisper.

Then

A flash.

My vision blurred for a second.

And suddenly

I wasn’t in my room anymore.

Darkness.

Cold.

The smell of earth.

I gasped, stumbling back.

The room snapped back into place instantly.

“What”

My voice shook slightly.

That wasn’t normal.

That couldn’t be normal.

I pressed a hand to my head.

Trying to steady myself.

Trying to understand.

But before I could

The door opened.

I turned quickly.

Riven.

Of course.

He stepped inside like he owned the place.

Which… he did.

His eyes landed on me instantly.

Sharp.

Observant.

Nothing ever escaped him.

“You’re not supposed to be out of bed.”

I rolled my eyes slightly.

“I’m not dying, you know.”

He didn’t look convinced.

His gaze dropped briefly

Taking in the fact that I was standing.

On my own.

Then back to my face.

“You were unconscious a few hours ago.”

“I’m fine now.”

“Stop saying that.”

I frowned slightly.

“Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Because you keep lying.”

I opened my mouth

Then stopped.

Okay.

Maybe I was.

“That’s not the point,” I muttered.

Riven stepped closer.

Slowly.

There was something different about him tonight.

Not as aggressive.

Not as sharp.

But not calm either.

Just…

Focused.

“What were you doing?” he asked.

I hesitated.

Just for a second.

“Nothing.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

I crossed my arms slightly.

“And you’re annoying.”

That earned a small smirk.

“Careful,” he said.

“Or what?”

He stepped closer again.

Now there was barely any space between us.

My breath hitched slightly.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

“Or I might start thinking you like arguing with me.”

I scoffed lightly.

“In your dreams.”

His smirk didn’t fade.

“If that was true, you wouldn’t still be standing here.”

I blinked.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

His gaze dropped briefly to my hand.

Still gripping the window.

Tight.

“You’re not scared.”

The words came out quieter this time.

I frowned.

“I never said I was.”

“That’s the problem.”

Silence.

Something shifted again.

That same strange feeling from before.

But stronger.

Closer.

My grip tightened.

Riven noticed immediately.

“What is it?”

I shook my head.

“Nothing.”

But it wasn’t nothing.

The ringing came back.

Louder.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

“Hannah.”

His voice was closer now.

More serious.

“I said I’m fine”

The words cut off.

A sudden wave hit me.

Hard.

My vision blurred again.

But this time

It didn’t go away.

The air around me felt… heavy.

Charged.

The curtains by the window moved suddenly.

Even though the wind had stopped.

Riven’s expression changed instantly.

“What the”

I stumbled back slightly.

My heart racing now.

Finally reacting.

“I don’t know what’s happening “

The words barely left my mouth when

The glass on the table cracked.

A sharp sound filled the room.

Both of us froze.

I stared at it.

Wide-eyed.

“I didn’t”

Another crack.

This time louder.

Riven stepped forward quickly, grabbing my arm.

“Stop.”

“Stop what?!”

The air shifted again.

More violently this time.

The candles flickered wildly.

My chest tightened.

“I can’t”

“Control it.”

His voice was firm.

Steady.

“Breathe.”

“I am breathing!”

“Not properly.”

His grip tightened slightly.

Not hurting.

Just grounding.

“Look at me.”

I did.

His eyes locked with mine.

Sharp.

Focused.

Unmoving.

“Breathe.”

Slow.

In.

Out.

Again.

The ringing started to fade.

The pressure eased.

The room slowly settled.

Silence.

Heavy.

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Everything was normal again.

Too normal.

Riven didn’t let go immediately.

His eyes searched mine.

Trying to understand.

Trying to figure it out.

“…You did that,” he said quietly.

I shook my head instantly.

“No.”

But even as I said it

I knew.

I did.