Aria’s POV

Sleep didn’t take me gently. It pulled me under like a tide I didn’t have the strength to fight. The moment my eyes closed, moonlight curled around me—warm, soft, almost protective. It wasn’t the distant glow that spilled over rooftops. It touched me like a familiar hand, settling over my heartbeat as if trying to soothe something I hadn’t realized was trembling.

Silver dust stretched beneath my feet, glowing with every breath I took. The air thrummed faintly, a lullaby ...