The room was quiet, save for the soft crackle of the dying fire in the hearth. The faint scent of woodsmoke mingled with the lingering aroma of supper, now cold and forgotten on the side table. Hybern’s muffled night sounds filtered through the shutters—a distant bark, the occasional clatter of hooves on cobblestones, and the low hum of life that never quite stopped, even after dark.

  I sat by the window, elbows resting on my knees, staring at the faint glow of lanterns that lined the streets below. My mind wandered, retracing the path that had brought us here. From Stonebridge to the wildlands, the farm, and now Hybern—it felt like a lifetime ago when I’d first awakened in this strange world.

  Misty stretched languidly on the bed, her golden eyes reflecting the firelight as she watched me. Elara lay curled on the far side, her breathing steady and soft. The blanket draped low over her form, I envied her that peace.

  ‘You look like you’re brooding again,’ Misty’s voice brushed against my mind, low and teasing. ‘Careful, Del. Too much of that, and you’ll turn into one of those tragic heroes you used to read about. All grim stares and poetic misery.’

  I smirked despite myself. ‘Just thinking. Is that a crime now?’

  ‘Depends. Are you thinking, or are you wallowing? They’re not the same, you know.’ She flicked her tail, the tip twitching in amusement.

  I leaned back in my chair, rubbing the back of my neck. ‘A bit of both, I suppose. Feels like we’ve been running nonstop since this whole thing started. And now... Naomi’s gone. Ander will train her, I know that. But she’s not a kid anymore, not after everything she’s seen. Feels wrong to leave her behind.’

  Misty rolled onto her side, one paw resting lazily over her chest. ‘She’ll be fine. She’s stronger than you give her credit for. Besides, she’s better off with Ander. You can’t keep collecting strays, Del. Even you have limits.’

  I chuckled softly, shaking my head. ‘And yet, here I am. The man with the sarcastic cat and an elf who is far better a person than I could ever be. Some hero I’ve turned out to be.’

  ‘Oh, you’re right there. Absolutely not a hero.’ Her gaze softened slightly. ‘But, you’ve kept us alive this long, haven’t you?’

  Her words struck a chord, and I let the silence stretch between us. She wasn’t wrong. I’d made mistakes—plenty of them—but we were still here. And somewhere along the way, I’d stopped feeling like an imposter in my own skin.

  My thoughts drifted again, unbidden, to Naomi. Her wide eyes when she stepped into Ander’s office, the way she’d tried so hard not to cry when we said goodbye. The memory sat heavy in my chest. I could only hope she’d find her way, just as I was trying to find mine.

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  “You ever wonder,” I said aloud, more to the room than to Misty, “if we’re being played? Like there’s some grand game going on, and we’re just the pawns?”

  Misty’s tail stilled, her gaze sharpening. ‘All the time. But I don’t think it matters, Del. Pawn or king, the game’s the same. You keep moving forward, or you get knocked off the board.’

  I nodded slowly, her words settling into the quiet space between us. The fire crackled again, its embers glowing faintly. Elara stirred in her sleep, murmuring something I couldn’t quite catch.

  Pushing myself to my feet, I crossed the room, quickly undressed and slid under the blanket beside her. The mattress dipped slightly, and she shifted, her hand brushing against my arm in a sleepy gesture of familiarity. Misty hopped onto the foot of the bed, her purring a soft, soothing hum.

  As I closed my eyes, the weight of the day began to lift, replaced by a tentative sense of calm. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges. But for tonight, I let myself rest.

  The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the taproom, soft and golden. The air carried the comforting smell of fresh bread and frying bacon, mingled with the faint scent of the herbs that hung to dry by the window.

  We sat at the small table in the corner of the room, plates of steaming food in front of us. Misty perched on the windowsill, watching the bustling street beyond with her usual air of feline superiority.

  “Feels strange,” Elara said, breaking the quiet. “Having breakfast without Naomi chattering away.”

  I nodded, swallowing a mouthful of bread. “It does. But she’ll be all right. Ander knows what he’s doing.”

  Elara gave a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I know. Still... it feels like we’ve lost something.”

  Misty, ever the pragmatist, flicked her tail and turned to us. ‘You’ve still got me, so really, you’re doing fine.’

  I snorted, earning a faint chuckle from Elara as I told her what Misty had said. The levity was brief but welcome.

  As we finished our meal, the landlord stopped by our table, a folded note in hand. “Thought you’d want to see this,” he said, his tone low. “Rumours are starting to spread of some illness in the outer districts. Folks whispering about shadows.”

  Elara took the note, her brow furrowing as she read. “Shadows?” she repeated, glancing at me.

  The landlord shrugged; his expression grim. “Could be nothing. Could be something. But Hybern’s not as safe as it looks, that’s for sure.”

  As he walked away, I met Elara’s gaze. The unease in her eyes mirrored my own. Shadows, sickness—it sounded far too coincidental.

  “Looks like we’ve got work to do,” I said quietly.

  Misty hopped onto the table, her tail curling around her paws. ‘Of course we do. You think this place was going to let us sit around doing nothing?’

  I smiled faintly, though the tension in my chest remained. The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, I felt ready to face it, and as Hybern stirred to life, its secrets whispered in the shadows, waiting for the light of day—or the courage of those who dared to seek them.

  Here ends Awakening - Book One of Beyond Extinction.

  Coming Soon: Resonance - Book 2 of Beyond Extinction.