Elvira

I barely slept that night. The relic sat heavy in my palm, it's cold metal biting against my skin. When dawn barely crept through my window, I found myself unable to hold the silence anymore. I had to tell Jaxon.

I found him in the great hall, leaning against the stone archway like he was carved from it himself. His dark eyes caught mine, sharp with concern.

“Jaxon,” I said, my voice trembling more than I wanted. “I need to show you something.”

He straightened, knitting his brows. “Elvira? What’s going on?”

I swallowed, heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it. “It’s about the relic....