Chapter 45

Ronan's POV

Three weeks passed after the founder seal woke beneath Vivian's skin, and for once no ancient bell broke before breakfast. The quiet wasn't peace. Severin had vanished south, the First House remained closed, and Custodian scouts tested our roads almost every night. But the gap gave us time the crisis had previously refused to allow.

The coalition spent those weeks checking on children whose marks still hurt, keeping healers in contact with their families, and rebuilding warning routes. Nia remained at home in Frostmere. Lena made Orsik repair the hinge he had promised to fix. Vivian's pregnancy advanced under Maeve's supervision, though Maeve watched her closely for early labor. Gideon learned to ask before entering her room. No one called that redemption. It was practice.

For years, my fixed purpose had been to keep Black Hollow out