SERAPHINA’S POV
Even though I had already seen fragments of it inside Celeste’s memories, hearing her recount everything aloud still unsettled something deep inside me.
When I was in her mind earlier, the memories came in flashes—broken images tangled with emotion.
Chains biting into skin. The metallic smell of blood. Olivia collapsing to the ground. Kharis fading away.
But now those pieces had been arranged into a full story. The truth carried a very different weight when it was spoken out loud.
And sitting across from Celeste as she finished speaking, the room felt strangely small despite its size.
Soft lamplight cast long shadows across the walls. The curtains had been drawn shut, sealing us away from the rest of the house.
The air felt heavy, almost suffocating, as if the room itself had absorbed every ugly word Celeste had just spoken.
For several long seconds after she finished, no one said anything.
For once, she didn’t look composed.
