The silence after the storm was the loudest thing Aria had ever heard.

Rowan's body lay crumpled on the moss-laced floor, chest rising and falling too evenly—unnaturally so. Caleb still knelt beside him, breath shallow, one hand hovering as if afraid to touch him again.

Then Rowan’s fingers twitched.

Elena gasped. Solene stepped forward with her staff glowing faintly, but even her magic seemed hesitant, like it recoiled from the presence around him.

Aria felt it before she saw ...