The morning sun filtered softly through the cabin’s windows, bathing the room in a gentle glow. McKenna stirred awake, the lingering exhaustion from the previous night weighing heavy on her muscles. She blinked slowly, letting herself soak in the quiet. The events of the ball, the magical trap, the surge of her awakened power—all of it still replayed in her mind like shards of light piercing the darkness.
She reflected on how different things could have been. If she had listened to hesitation, if she had ignored the invitation and left her bags packed at home, perhaps none of this would have happened. Perhaps she wouldn’t have discovered the extent of her bond, the depth of her power, or even the danger lurking around her. But a part of her knew that avoiding the path wouldn’t have saved
