Elle’s POV
The cottage felt different without him. Not bad—just quieter. More still.
Lena moved around the room like she floated. She didn’t rush, didn’t make noise. Her dress swayed gently with each step, and the soft light from the hanging lanterns made her silver-streaked hair shimmer.
“Come,” she said kindly, gesturing toward a smaller room off to the side. “Let’s sit for a while.”
I followed her into what looked like a little sitting room. There were two cozy chairs, a small round table, and shelves filled with books and little potted plants. Dried herbs hung from the ceiling in bunches, and a small round window let in the last bit of sunlight, painting the floor in gold.
I sat down slowly, my body still sore from the ritual. I could feel the mark still tingling faintly on my nec
