Chapter 83: Whispers in the Shadows
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the library, casting fractured rays onto the table where Anita sat. She twirled a pencil between her fingers, her mind elsewhere. Across from her, Jace sipped his tea with an unusual quietness.
“Do you ever think about what happens after this?” Anita asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Jace glanced up, his eyes narrowing slightly. “After what?”
“After Kael,” she clarified. “After all this madness. Do you go back to… wherever fox spirits go?”
Jace’s gaze flickered, the question catching him off guard. “That depends. My existence is tied to the fox bead. If it’s safe… I can exist freely. But if Kael gets it…”
“You die,” Anita finished, her voice heavy.
Jace nodded but didn’t say anything more.
Anita leaned forward, her voice fierce. “That’s not going to happen. I won’t let it.”
Jace’s lips twitched into a small smile. “Bold words, but I appreciate the sentiment.”