Elena’s POV
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant about the whole situation. "Look, I get it. Corbin’s upset right now, but he’ll co around eventually. I honestly have no clue what set him off this ti."
Asher let out a harsh laugh that made my stomach clench. "Oh, you know exactly what you did to piss him off."
Heat crept up my neck as I felt everyone’s eyes on . "Asher thinks Corbin has so kind of feelings for , and apparently he’s not thrilled about hanging out with you guys all the ti. Especially Asher."
The silence that followed was deafening. They all looked at each other, but nobody cracked a smile or made a joke like they usually would. The weight of their unspoken thoughts pressed down on , making the air feel thick and suffocating.
I wasn’t about to dive into that ss right now.
Desperate for a distraction, I grabbed one of the books I’d picked up from the library earlier and cracked it open to the first page. The familiar sll of old paper and binding glue was oddly comforting.
"Moby Dick, huh?" Nico peered over my shoulder, reading the title. "That’s definitely a step up from Interview with a Vampire."
"Yeah, well, I figured it was ti to branch out a little." I turned the page, already drawn into lville’s dense prose.
"Good call," Nico nodded approvingly. "Classic literature never hurt anyone."
As the evening wore on, exhaustion began to settle over the group like a heavy blanket. One by one, the guys started heading to their bunks, the day’s tension finally catching up with them. But I wasn’t ready for sleep yet. The book had hooked completely, and I wanted to squeeze in a few more Chapters before calling it a night.
I’d already devoured the opening sections, completely absorbed in Ishmael’s philosophical musings about the sea. The story was far more engaging than I’d expected, drawing deeper into its world with each page.
That’s when Corbin appeared in the doorway like a storm cloud. His eyes found mine imdiately before scanning the rest of the room with military precision.
"Lights out," he announced curtly, his hand already moving toward the switch.
The room plunged into darkness, leaving sitting there with the book still open in my lap. I stared at the door where Corbin had been standing, frustration building in my chest like steam in a kettle.
Asher had already settled onto his back, his breathing becoming deeper and more rhythmic as he stared up at the ceiling. I glanced down at the book, intending to mark my place and set it aside for the night.
But sothing impossible was happening.
Even in the pitch-black room, I could still make out every single word on the page. The text was as clear as if soone had switched on a reading lamp right beside .
My heart started pounding as I held the book at arm’s length, blinking hard several tis before bringing it close again. The words remained perfectly visible, crisp and sharp against the white paper.
"You okay over there?" Asher’s voice cut through my panic, concern evident even in whisper.
"Yeah, sorry. I’m fine," I lied, my voice barely steady.
I quickly closed the book and placed it on my nightstand, then settled back onto my pillow. But sleep felt impossible now. Everything around seed incredibly vivid and detailed, despite the darkness that should have made everything invisible.
Asher’s concerned gaze lingered on , and I could feel him studying my face even in the shadows. I was grateful he couldn’t see how terrified I actually was.
Tomorrow I’d have to figure out what was happening to my vision. This wasn’t normal, and it was getting harder to pretend everything was fine. The bandages I still kept wrapped around my completely healed hands felt like a joke now, just another lie in an ever-growing pile of deception.
Eventually, exhaustion won out over anxiety, and I drifted into an uneasy sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in that familiar clearing where Asher and I always t during my dreams. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting everything in silver shadows. I looked down to find myself dressed in my usual black clothes, but sothing felt different this ti.
A soft sound made turn around.
There she was again - that stunning woman with cascading blonde hair that seed to glow in the ethereal light. Luna Elena stood just a few yards away, but tonight she wasn’t alone.
Cradled gently in her arms was a small baby, very young. The infant was perfectly still, almost unnaturally calm.
I knew Luna had children, but sothing about this particular baby made my chest tighten with an emotion I couldn’t na.
She turned to face fully, her expression serene and knowing. Unlike our previous encounters, she didn’t seem afraid or aggressive. Instead, she radiated a strange sense of peace that drew closer.
Step by cautious step, I approached her. She made no move to stop or retreat, simply watching as I closed the distance between us.
When I was finally close enough, I looked down at the baby in her arms. The infant’s eyes opened slowly, and when they t mine, my entire world shifted.
Those eyes were unmistakably my own.
I jolted awake, gasping for air and trembling uncontrollably. My heart hamred against my ribs so hard I thought it might burst.
Asher was beside instantly, his warm hands on my shoulders as he guided to sit up on the edge of the bed. "Hey, hey, it’s okay. You’re safe. Just breathe."
"What was it this ti? Another nightmare?" His voice was gentle but worried.
"I don’t know," I managed between shaky breaths. "Everything’s just... blurry."
Another lie. But how could I possibly explain what I’d seen?
"We’re all dealing with a lot right now. The stress is getting to everyone." Asher’s thumb traced soothing circles on my back. "Just focus on breathing, okay?"
I nodded, concentrating on slowing my racing pulse.
Asher stayed right there beside until the trembling stopped and my breathing returned to normal. When he finally lay back down, he stretched his arm across the narrow space between our bunks.
I gratefully took his offered hand, intertwining our fingers in the darkness. His touch was like an anchor, grounding in reality and pushing away the lingering images from my dream.
God, how I wished we could push these beds together. All I wanted was to curl up against his chest and let his strong arms shield from whatever was coming.
But that wasn’t an option here.
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