Evaline:
A huge part of me wanted to keep reading.
The book lay open on my lap, heavy not just in weight but in meaning, Lyssara's words still echoing in my mind like a whisper from across centuries. I wanted to know what came next... how she balanced her power with her mates, whether she ever found peace, whether she ever stopped feeling torn in half by fate and expectation.
But I didn't turn the page.
Instead, I forced myself to close the book.
The sound it made... soft but unmistakably solid... felt louder in the quiet room than it probably was. I rested my palm over the worn leather cover for a moment, grounding myself, before lifting it slightly to place it on the bedside table.
But Oscar's arm around my waist tightened instantly. Just a little. But enough to make me freeze.
