Days had passed since Evelyn had last seen Soren at his house — days filled with quiet thoughts, restless nights, and a storm of planning beneath her calm surface. The memory of their conversation lingered like perfume, sweet yet unsettling. His words had stuck to her mind, echoing with dangerous promise.

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The kind of day meant for peace — for soft breezes and lazy sunlight — yet Evelyn’s heart was anything but still. She sat on the edge of her ...