Althea felt it then. The loud, relentless thumping of her heart echoed in her ears, heavy and suffocating. She knew. Deep inside, she had always known how this would end.

The man who raised her. The father she grew up calling her own. He would die.

“I need to go,” she said suddenly, pushing herself up from the bed.

Candice reacted instantly, rushing to her side before she could even steady herself. “Althea, stop. Where are you going?” she demanded, gripping her arm. “You’re still ...