DamonThe clearing was already alive by the time I arrived—drums low and steady, a heartbeat in the dark. The full moon loomed high above it all, massive and pale, soaking the forest in silver.Tradition.I’d hated this place for years. At thirteen, Asher’s father had made me spar with some minor no
LilaThe air smelled like pine needles and smoke.The ceremonial clearing at the edge of the royal forest pulsed with sound and shadow—soft drums in the distance, voices murmuring low, the occasional sharp crack of a torch being lit.Lanterns hung from curved iron hooks planted in the earth, casting
I rose from bed slowly, careful not to move too fast. My skin felt too tight, like my body was trying to expand beneath it.Every joint protested as I stretched, the movement not painful, but wrong. Off. Like something inside me was shifting without permission.The dream still clung to me. Snow and
LilaSnow clung to the edge of my breath.The world around me was hushed, buried beneath a blanket of white that glittered under the sharp light of stars. Each flake was perfect. Every tree was bare and watching.And I stood barefoot at the edge of a forest I didn’t recognize, the snow cold against
DamonThe scent of sweat and oil hit me before I opened the door.The royal training hall was half-lit, the overhead lanterns casting long shadows across the stone floor. Weapons lined the walls—blunted swords, spears, and staff. The air was thick with the sharp metallic tang of old blood and the ra
LilaI tried not to flinch at the sound by boots made in the corridors. I Tried not to look over my shoulder.My pulse was already too quick—my instincts would too tightly to the possibility of turning a corner and seeing either of their faces.I hadn’t seen Damon since I returned. And I didn’t want