Chapter 94

Elodie

The mountain did not sleep.

Even in the deepest hours of the night, it breathed—slow, steady, alive. I felt it beneath my skin as I stood at the edge of the cavern, barefoot on cold stone, staring into the faint blue glow of the torches.

I had not slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw my mother running. Bleeding. Looking over her shoulder with fear and love tangled together. I didn’t remember her face, yet grief sat heavy in my chest like I had lost her ...