DYLAN’S POV:
By the time we reached the house, night had already swallowed the island.
There was no moon, just the heavy hush of darkness pressing in around us. The air smelled like salt and damp earth, and every sound felt sharper in the quiet.
Our footsteps echoed softly on the wooden porch.
The house stood in silence, lights glowing faintly through the windows like it were holding its breath.
Nala was there when we stepped inside. Waiting.
She leaned casually against the wall by the window, arms folded, one ankle crossed over the other. Too casual, considering the way her eyes locked onto me the second I walked through the door.
“Finally,” she said, her tone light. “I was starting to think you two had run off and left me.”
Left you, huh.
I wasn’t sure if she was joking or if pa
