(Chapter 109: Mira's POV)
The moon hung heavy in the sky, casting a silver glow over the fortress as I stood at the edge of the courtyard. The air was thick with tension—anticipation laced with the bitter edge of fear. Tonight, everything changed.
Lorenzo had insisted on seeing us off despite the weight pressing on his shoulders. His dark form leaned against one of the stone pillars, arms crossed over his chest. The usual sharpness in his expression had softened just enough that I knew he didn't like this—any of it.
"You don't have to do this alone," he said quietly, his voice cutting through the stillness.
I turned toward him, the cool night breeze lifting strands of my hair. "You know I do." My voice was steady, but beneath it lay the fear I didn't want to name. "If the white witch knows how to break Lillian's hold on me, we can't waste time. And if Caelyn doesn't convince the Mer King—"