When the blinding light faded and the oppressive chill of the rift finally loosened its claws, the ground beneath our feet shifted. A loud crack split the air—followed by a rush of wind that felt like being pulled through a whirlpool. Hugo's arms tightened protectively around me as everything dissolved into white.
And then—
We landed.
Not gently.
The world snapped back into focus with a violent jolt, and suddenly we were standing in our bedroom at the Draven mansion. The soft lighting, the familiar scent of clean sheets, the faint hum of the air purifier—it all felt surreal after the suffocating darkness of the rift. My knees trembled, and Hugo kept an arm firmly around my waist, steadying me.
But before either of us could catch our breath, our bedroom door slammed open.
Kael Draven and Marina rushed inside.
