129. Morning Turmoil

|| Lilac’s POV || I woke up with a throbbing headache, the events of the previous night crashing down on me like a tidal wave. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions—confusion, pain, and a deep, aching longing for Alaric. I reached out to Runa immediately, desperate for some kind of reassurance, some kind of answer. But she was silent, her presence faint and unresponsive. I sighed, dragging myself out of bed and into the bathroom to freshen up. The cold water on my face did little to ease the tension in my chest. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes hollow and my face pale. The bond with Elias felt like a chain, binding me to a fate I didn’t want. And Alaric… Alaric was gone, his absence a gaping wound in my soul. I made my way downstairs, the smell of pancakes and coffee filling the air. My family was already at the table, their voices cheerful and light. But the moment I stepped into the room, the atmosphere shifted. My mother’s eyes softened with concern, while my father ga