Chapter 272

Aurora's Perspective It was a thrill that went bone-deep, like electricity under my skin, making every pore breathe in the night’s tense air. I tossed and turned in bed, the expensive Egyptian cotton sheets tangled into a ruin beneath me. Closing my eyes only brought a barrage of images—the pulsing red ambulance lights, Brett's stubborn "I'm fine" grin, the frozen coldness in Mother's eyes when she'd mentioned Uncle Keith's team moving out. Outside, the night was still a deep ink-black, only the faintest hint of grey seeping into the eastern horizon. The estate slept in silence, broken only by the low murmur of patrols changing shifts and the wind rustling through the ancient oaks. Then the sounds changed. First came sporadic, muffled cheers from the direction of the front courtyard, dulled as if heard through water. Then more voices joined in—guttural whoops, sharp whistles, the solid *thump* of fists pounding on something. Like oil hittin