ASTER'S POV
I stood at the mouth of the alley, the night clinging to me like a second skin. In the distance, the faint chime of bells echoed through the cobbled streets of Sicily, deep in the heart of the black market I had spent years hunting for.
The air was thick with the scent of salt and stone, but beneath it all, I could feel the artifact—its power thrumming like a heartbeat, steady and insistent. It was calling to me.
I’ve traveled farther than any witch should ever need to, following breadcrumbs left by cowards and liars. But I’m patient. Vengeance doesn’t come overnight — it brews like poison. And I’ve waited long enough. I’ve scoured ancient tomes and questioned the darkest of contacts, even crossing treacherous lands and navigating whispered rumors of its existence. Most cla
