Chapter 71

• Dane emerged from the steam-filled bathroom like a phantom from the shadows and found himself alone. His mother’s absence nagged at him as he poured himself a glass of wine, heading to the balcony to seek comfort in the face of inner demons.
• The wind tousled his wet hair, carrying the first hints of dawn. The sky was tinted in mauve and indigo, clouds like canvas brushstrokes. It was a precious moment suspended between day and night, when dreams still had the upper hand over reality. The world felt like a battlefield of opposing ideas as he stood there.
• Rage and resentment clawed at Dane's soul, a savage force that threatened to consume him whole. Every second only fed the fire of revenge and stoked a hatred that pulsed stronger with each beat of his heart. Impatience gnawed at his core like a ravenous beast.