Ethan's POV
The cave felt heavy, like the air didn’t want me there. Breathing hurt a little, like something sharp was in my chest.
The torch in my hand made shaky shadows on the wet stone walls. They looked like claws trying to grab me.
I stood in front of the stone table. That’s where the body said to be Ellie was.
I couldn’t move. My head was full of too many thoughts. I felt sad… and angry too. Really angry.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
A soft scuff of footsteps reached me.
I turned, every muscle tensed.
A door I hadn’t noticed before creaked open, spilling a thin blade of light across the floor.
Lilian stepped inside.
For a heartbeat I thought the grief had finally broken me.
Her hair gleamed a familiar chestnut, her posture calm, almost regal.
But something in
