Chapter 24 Fractures

• The forest lay in ruins. Smoke coiled from the splintered earth, the silence broken only by the hiss of settling debris.
• Emma’s hands shook as she steadied Jared against her shoulder. His body was heavy, limp, but not lifeless. His steel-grey eye flicked open weakly, locking onto hers for a heartbeat. Relief hit her chest—then froze when she saw the other eye.
• Black. Faintly glowing. Crown-light still smoldering inside it.