Val's P.O.V

The silence in the hallway was absolute, broken only by the faint hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen and the ragged sound of my own breathing. We stared at Juliette, who stood shivering slightly in her oversized robe, her basket of remedies looking suddenly absurd. The ethereal wellness guru was gone. In her place was a woman with fear in her eyes and a terrifying certainty in her voice.

“You… know?” Brielle finally managed, the words a choked whisper. The crystal ...