VERA
"It's time."
Kane's low voice came from somewhere behind me, slicing through the thick silence and making me flinch.
"Already?" I managed a whisper.
He nodded. Dressed entirely in black, Kane blended into the dimly lit chamber, his dagger strapped securely to his belt.
"Okay," I murmured, my throat suddenly dry. "Just give me a minute."
I reached for the paperback on the table, slipping a polished pocket watch into the folds of my dress before straightening my shoulders. My reflection in the mirror looked pale and taut, but I forced myself to meet her eyes.
"I'm ready," I told Kane.
He inclined his head in silent acknowledgment and retreated, pulling the door shut with barely a sound. The quiet that followed was deafening.
