Chapter 81 Beneath The Surface

The days that followed the battle were a blur of movement—shifting debris, rebuilding, mourning. The survivors worked tirelessly, clearing the remnants of Tobias’s empire and establishing a new foundation for what remained of their world. There was an unspoken understanding among them all that they had been handed a second chance, one they would not squander. But even as they toiled, the weight of the unknown pressed heavily on Isla’s heart. The flicker of fate she had felt was still there, growing stronger with each passing hour. It wasn’t a memory of the past or the embers of Tobias’s fire that clung to her—it was something else. Something far older. She could feel its pull, tugging at her in a way she couldn’t quite explain. And though Dominic reassured her with every word he spoke, Isla couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was a storm on the horizon, one she couldn’t yet see but could certainly feel.