When Evelyn opened her eyes, the world was silent.

Not still — silent.

The kind of silence that didn’t belong to dawn or sleep, but to something deeper. The air was heavy with quiet energy, the walls faintly pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat. She was lying in her chamber, the sheets cool against her skin, the scent of cedar and ash lingering in the air.

For a moment, she thought she was dreaming again.

Then she saw Ronan sitting beside her bed, slumped in exhaustion, his sword resting ...