Ember Frost’s POV

I found myself staring at my mother's face, following every familiar line as if it were a mirror reflecting my future. The similarity between us was unmistakable, a gentle reminder of the importance of family ties. One day, I'd mature into her looks, with the same form of eyes and lips. But what I doubted I could ever inherit was the grace—the softness, the elegance—that seemed to radiate effortlessly from her.

My mother settled beside me on the bed, and we drifted ...