Aliyah's POV

The world had narrowed to the thin strip in my hand. Two lines. Dark. Certain. The wet sand clung to my knees, the cold soaking through the thin fabric of my pants, but I barely felt it. The ocean roared somewhere beyond me, steady and merciless, like it knew something I didn’t want to admit.

I stared until the lines blurred. My fingers trembled. I couldn’t breathe properly—the air felt thick, useless.

A shadow moved over me.

“Aliyah?”

I jerked my head up. Asher ...