Chapter 1641

No one spoke. They didn't need to. There was a quiet reverence in every motion, every glance, every brush of fingers. Susan's hand lingered on Stella's lower back as they walked. Natalie and Emma walked with arms laced, hips touching. Lucy kept close to Jude's side, fingers trailing lightly over his wrist, anchoring herself to him like she was still drinking in what had just happened beneath the earth.

The clearing where the heartstone stood came into view again, but it looked different now. The spiral path they'd taken was no longer faint - it glowed brightly in the moss, the center marked with delicate blossoms of pale gold, as if the island itself had crowned the spot sacred.

Rose was the first to step into the center. She turned, hair dancing in the breeze, her voice soft and thick with awe. "We're not who we were before."

Sophie's smile curved, wry and soft. "No... we're more."