The harbor stilled at 12:17 a.m., but the silence lied.

Laken stood on the harbor wall (wings of frost-fire blazing white, phoenix heart steady beneath her ribs). Reed leaned against her (dragon-stone scars dimmed to soft silver, breath ragged). Harold’s human form trembled beside them (silver key cracked down the middle). The family formed a ragged circle (Luca, Wade, Cassiopeia, Marcus, Eliza) eyes locked on the water.

The third eye had vanished. But the air hummed.

A ...