Chapter 181

CHAPTER 23… VALENTINA The world felt like it was stitched together by mist and memory. The Veil breathed around me—thin, fragile, trembling, like a dying creature taking its last breaths. I could feel it unraveling under my skin with every step Andres took, carrying me through the shifting light. His arms were solid around me, grounding me while everything else crumbled like a dream waking up too late. His warmth was real. His heartbeat was steady, protective, and real. The only stable thing in a land that had fed off my instability. “Valentina,” He murmured near my ear, his voice low, urging, trying to tether me to him instead of the haze. “Stay with me. Whatever it shows you— don’t let it take you again.” Again… The word hit something deep within me. Because the Veil wasn't just a spell. It was a scar. And suddenly… it cracked. Not in a dramatic explosion. More like glass sighing before it shatters. A ripple went across the air, soft as a breath, and then— everything froze. In front