Vanc

soriented, the unfamiliar feeling of a soft mattress beneath me and th

s broad shoulders filling the small cooking space by the hearth. On the floor, where he had s

u're awake. Breakfast is ready." His voice was eve

long as I could remember, I had woken up to the smell of a

have made it,

ed high with eggs and bacon. "W

yet so profound, settled

g the Vance house, I had forgotten the one other thing that truly mattered-my mother's silver locket,

ce quiet but firm. "I left my mothe

ll take you. I don't want you going back there alone." The pro

n tension. I was returning to the place that had been my

living room, their faces et

ing with acid. "Couldn't stand the squalor, or di

way. "I'm here for what's mine," I said f

ss of guilt and relief. I led him out to

I told him, my voice steady.

ds sounding hollow and late. "I failed yo

at had cost me so much. "It's too late for

, he reached into his pocket. "Wait. Before you g

rom the doorway. "Are you done yet? I'd like to kno

Of course. That's all

nly I could hear. "It's all I have. The Moonstone will help soothe Ly

one, glowing with a soft, milky light. It was a common c

, too late, but it was something. A flicker o

arily forgotten, the moonstone clutched tightly in my fist. Orion calle

ent, steady presence. Seeing him there, I felt a profound s

and defeated. Kaelan's stormy eyes followed my gaze, then dropped to the pouch in my hand. His expression was un

I clutched the cool stone in my palm, unaware that my brother's small gift of g