The night after the messenger's death, Ravenclaw did not sleep. The flames from his body still lingered on the marble floor, leaving blackened scars that even water could not wash away. Evelyn watched the cleanup in silence, her mind caught between fury and fear.
The words Fji had spoken echoed like a curse. How long can you hold the walls when your Alpha is dying?
She wanted to believe it was just a taunt, another psychological strike. But deep down, she knew the truth. Damien was fading. His strength, once boundless, now came in short bursts, followed by exhaustion so deep that even his wolf struggled to rise.
As dawn crept over the horizon, she slipped into their chamber. The curtains fluttered softly, and there he was — sitting by the window, his face pale, eyes distant as if watching a world only he could see.
"You should be resting," she said quietly.
He turned to her with a tired smile. "I have slept enough. There are things to see before they fade."
