Petal's Pov

The light faded slowly, like the breath of a dying star. For a long moment, everything was still no wind, no whispers, only the faint hum of the earth beneath them.

Petal stirred first. Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks, and a soft gasp escaped her lips as she opened her eyes to the world again. Her skin shimmered faintly, touched by silver dust from the Rite. Her fingers clenched around the dirt as though anchoring herself to life.

Then she turned and found Aslaan kneeling ...