By the time they had cleared plates and refilled coffee mugs, the sun had begun its lazy arc across the sky, spilling honeyed light through the kitchen windows.
Outside, the estate gardens bore scars from the previous night's cosmic chaos—shimmering patches of residual energy and scorch marks that seemed to pulse faintly with the faint echoes of the Devourer's attention.
The threat hadn't gone entirely; it had retreated, yes, but it had learned their location. That lingering unease pressed on them subtly, a reminder that the morning's victory was only temporary.
Samantha stood, stretching just enough to feel her back pop, and felt the familiar pull of the bond. Her mates were shifting, restless, and she knew they were already planning the next step. "We should check the town," she said, attempting casual lightness. "Make sure everyone's okay—and warn them that, yes, reality just tried to collapse around their heads."
