|| Lilac’s POV ||

The moment I stepped into Elara’s apartment, the weight of their stares hit me like a tidal wave. Elara, Madeline, Astrid, and Alexander— all four of them were there, their expressions a mix of worry, curiosity, and something else I couldn’t quite place. It was three in the morning, and the air was thick with tension.

“Goddess, look at you,” Elara said, her voice a mix of concern and exasperation as she took in my disheveled appearance.

I ...