Chapter 18 Desperate Measures

Elowen woke before dawn, her chest tight with adrenaline. She lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, the quiet hum of the mansion pressing down on her. Today wasn’t just any day. It was the day—the day everything changed. Sliding out of bed, she moved silently to the vanity, her fingers trembling just slightly as she applied her makeup. Her eyes were hard, sharper than she’d ever seen them. Her lips—bold red. A color of warning.