|| Lilac’s POV ||

I woke up with a throbbing headache, the events of the previous night crashing down on me like a tidal wave. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions—confusion, pain, and a deep, aching longing for Alaric. I reached out to Runa immediately, desperate for some kind of reassurance, some kind of answer. But she was silent, her presence faint and unresponsive. I sighed, dragging myself out of bed and into the bathroom to freshen up.

The cold water on my face did ...