Shaletha Noelynn Harris never knew a world beyond Everhaze. She was born here, beneath the same sky, breathing the same air, listening to the wind whisper things only she could understand in silence.

​

Unlike those who arrived and departed, she never had a choice. This place was her home—and her boundary.

​

Her parents’ absence left more than just grief. It was a reminder that everything in this world is fleeting. The grief was not loud; it was quiet, lingering in the corners of her mind like mist before dawn. And in that silence, a thought crept in—one she dared not speak.

​

What would happen if she were to disappear, too?

​

It was a selfish thought, one she banished as quickly as it came. But it was enough. Enough for her to turn to the only person she had left—Audine. Her sister had always been different. Softer in some ways, but no less resilient. 

​

Shaletha did the only thing she could. She stood. She watched. She carried the role left behind for her, never once asking if she wanted it. Because Everhaze had to endure, and someone had to ensure it.