Sally's POV
The silence stretches between us like a taut wire. Warren's giggles drift over from the yard where he chases shadows, but even his joy can't lift the weight pressing down on my chest. Sean keeps stealing glances our way, and it looks like he's struggling to stay away, torn between wanting to comfort me and knowing I need space to process this nightmare.
"What terrifies me most," I finally whisper, the words scraping my throat raw, "is not knowing which reality is worse. Finding out I'm not human means I've painted a target on our backs for reasons I never saw coming. But if I am human, then this whole mess is just some sick cosmic joke."
Karl's lips brush against my hair, warm and reassuring. "Nothing touches you or your sister here. Anyone who tries goes through me first."
His scent wraps around me like armor, and I sink deeper into his embrace. "How much of this insanity should I dump on Juliette?"
