Ashlyn's POV
“Xavier!” I called out, jolting awake from a deep sleep. My voice echoed in the stillness, but there was no response.
Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I looked around, my heart sinking when I realized where I was—the Red Room.
But Xavier was nowhere to be seen.
A heavy feeling settled in my chest as the reality hit me—he hadn’t come home last night. He was probably spending quality time with Lily.
Swallowing hard, I threw my legs off the bed and got to my feet. My body felt sluggish, weighed down by exhaustion and the emotions swirling inside me.
Pushing my hair back, I inhaled deeply, then walked out of the room.
Sitting on the creaky wooden stairs of the treehouse, I watched the sun slowly rise, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.
Despite the s
