(Casey's POV)
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The first thing I noticed that morning wasn't the warmth—it was the light. A thin, sliver of sunlight had wormed its way through the barely parted curtains, cutting across my face like a blade made of fire. It wasn't blinding, not at first. Just enough to stir me. I didn't open my eyes right away. I drifted, teetering on the edge of consciousness, suspended in that strange limbo where dreams and reality blur into one.
I could feel Jace beside me, his body radiating heat, grounding me. For a moment, it felt peaceful. Safe.
There was something off in the silence. It wasn't the usual morning calm. It was too still. Like the house was holding its breath. Like something was watching—waiting.
