Nyx's Pov

After Ryker had offered to follow me to get Lily’s Bloom from Silver Valley, the next step was to tell his family about his decision.

I had packed my few belongings into the small backpack I carried from Caspian's house. It was light, but the weight I felt was not from it, it was from the thought of what lay ahead. I tightened the straps over my shoulders and left the inn.

The early morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew and the far-off smell of bread baking in someone’s oven. People were just beginning to stir, shutters opening, sleepy voices calling to each other....