Chapter 261

Sienna

I watched them from the balcony, my fingers clenched around the railing. And though I didn’t want to admit it, I’ve been watching for hours.

Lysandra was seated beside Carter, feeding him like he hadn’t been a danger to us days ago. I should’ve felt angry. Or cautious. But I didn’t. Not tonight. Not after everything we had survived. There was something raw, something real about the way she looked at him. Not with pity. But with fire. With hope.

She was healing.

And that terrified me.

Because I hadn’t yet.

I tried to, but the idea of my own mother being in charge of all of this didn’t make it easier. It was actually more painful for me to deal with.

The wind moved through my hair, warm and heavy. The aftermath of war always smelled the same, ash, sweat, and soil. But underneath it tonight was something more subtle. Change. The kind that didn’t ask for permission.

It just lingered there and though I knew that it should be g