CHAPTER 20

Zayne's convoy moved through the DeRyiles estate—a place Eva once called home, though the word never truly fit.  The long path ahead of them was lit by enchanted flames that morphed in color—changing from red to indigo, then soft silver—guiding them through the  property. Eva sat still as she looked outside the window. Her heart was beating fast, not from fear, but from so many emotions she couldn’t fully name. Anxiety. Dread.  She had memories of the girl she once was. The girl who had cried herself to sleep under this very roof. The girl who learned early that silence was safer than speaking. The girl who wasn’t allowed to shine. This place had never been home. It had been a cage of secrets and pain. Zayne, sitting beside her, turned his head slowly toward her. He noticed the way her breath hitched. The way her posture straightened, as if she was preparing for battle. He noticed everything about her. He reached for her hand.  “You’re not alone this time,” he murmured. Eva loo