The house was quieter than usual. Too quiet. My brothers had gone outside to check the property, their footsteps crunching on the gravel path. I stayed inside, feeling the weight of the blood-painted gate pressing against my mind, the silver threads along my wrist thrumming quietly.
I hadn’t slept much. My dreams were restless, filled with silver light and the pull of the bond. Every time I closed my eyes, I could feel Kael’s anger, Ryn’s tension, Soren’s frustration, and Jace’s fear bleeding into me, sharp and raw. The threads were stronger than ever, alive and demanding attention.
And then there was Talon. Even though the bond with him wasn’t as intense as with my brothers, I could feel his presence like a steady hum beneath the storm. I hated that I had to hide it from everyone, prete
