THE CREST FAMILY ARE THE MOLE

{"Right or wrong, you and I exist together… or we don't exist at all."}

A sharp jolt of awareness snapped me from sleep, my heart pounding before my mind could even register why. Kayne stirred deep within me, his presence unfurling like a storm cloud, thick with unease. Danger. The word vibrated through my bones. I slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Tor, and stepped onto the cold floor barefoot. The air in the chamber felt different, charged, expectant. I didn't bother reaching for a cloak as I moved, my body attuned to the pulse of the night.

Through the stone corridors, past the flickering torches, I made my way to the secret garden. The moment I stepped outside, the cool night air wrapped around me, thick with the scent of damp earth and night-blooming flowers. The candles that lined the path swayed, their flames flickering as though whispering warnings I could not yet hear.