The harsh buzzing of my alarm jolted me awake, dragging me from a fitful sleep plagued by fragmented dreams. Distant memories of silver eyes that once looked at me with disgust now haunted me from thousands of miles away. I sat up in bed, rubbing my face as last night's news about Rhys Knight's impending visit replayed in my mind.
"Get it together, Elara," I muttered to myself, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.
The morning light filtered through my curtains as I went through my routine—shower, makeup, outfit selection. Each careful step designed to armor myself against the world. I no longer hid behind baggy clothes and thick glasses. Instead, I chose a sleek pencil skirt and emerald green blouse that complemented my eyes—the witch eyes I'd once disguised but now proudly displayed.
My phone buzzed with a text from Seraphina: *Heard the news. You okay?*
I typed back: *Surviving. Not letting him ruin what I've built.*