Kieran Bonus Scene
The Crown is always the last circle I check.
The volcanic rock is slick with predawn mist as I ascend the carved steps. I’ve made this climb so many times my body knows where to step before my eyes confirm it.
Ember Ring, untouched. Smoke Spire, sealed. Mirror Vault, intact. Void Pit, empty. Fury Loop…
I don’t let myself linger on the Fury Loop.
The wind picks up as I reach the final switchback, carrying the faint taste of sulfur and ozone that the Crown always throws into the air.
The wards around the perimeter pulse against my skin when I cross them, a warning that this ground is forbidden and a reminder that I’m one of two people on this island authorized to ignore that warning.
Then I see her, curled on the volcanic rock like a question mark, knees drawn to her chest, auburn hair loose and tangled across the stone.
Evie Thorne.
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Want more?
This bonus scene tells Kieran’s side about when he found Evie on the Crown—the climb, the discovery, the two hours he held her while she slept, and the five seconds standing over the bed that changed everything.
Grab the full scene here or scan the QR code below:
teel-and-solitude
Then turn the page for a short note from me and information about my other academy series that I know you’ll love.