Moira's POV

The silence in the ward is exactly what I expected.

I shift against the hospital pillows, my ribs protesting every movement. The monitors beep their steady rhythm, but the absence of security guards in the hallway comes as no surprise. Victoria's fire worked perfectly—drew everyone away just like I knew it would.

'They're coming. They've been planning this since the moment they found out I was alive.'

Emerald stirs beneath my skin, her presence stronger ...