Chapter 1704

Later that evening, when the sun dipped low behind the trees and painted the sky in fiery hues, the others gathered around the fire. No one spoke at first. The crackling flames filled the silence with warmth, and the golden canopy above them seemed to breathe with them.

Emma finally broke it. "What does this mean for us?"

Jude looked up. "It means we're part of something bigger than we understood. The rituals, the heartstone, Alara... this was never just about sex. Or power. It was always about life."

Natalie nodded, fingers laced together in her lap. "We're building something."

Zoey leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "And it's just starting."

Rose smiled faintly. "We've touched something that's been asleep for centuries. Now it's awake."