(Rhea’s POV)
I sat on the edge of the bed for too long, until the morning light crept in through the apartment’s tall window. Elaria’s sun usually felt warm, but today the light only highlighted how unfamiliar this room felt to me.
My eyes were swollen from lack of sleep. Every time I closed them, Kaelan’s stretched jaw came back to me — the fangs slicing his lip, those golden eyes glowing in the dark. The image clung to me, like an ink stain that wouldn’t come off.
My hands were still shaking. I gripped the cool satin sheet, hoping the texture would calm me down. It didn’t.
Eventually I forced myself up. My legs were wobbly, but I pushed toward the bedroom door. The metal handle was cold under my palm and my heart hammered so fast it felt like my body was warning me not to leave.
I a
