the woods. Every step was deliberate, his senses heightened. The whispering winds carried the faint rust

his isn't normal," Lucan murmured, voice barely above a wh

darkness ahead. "It's watching us," he replied. "And i

that whatever haunted these woods wasn't just a rogue o

flames had flickered, as though startled by something unseen. The chilling voice that had sli

at him-not with admiration, not with fear, but

ody moved on instinct, muscles coiling as he turned toward t

he faint moonlight filt

le

ore unpredictable than fear. She stood tall, her silver-blonde

e here," Azriel

uld you," sh

ssing into a thin line. "I'll give you t

ed. "You fo

head slightly. "No.

zriel on e

bt, hesitation, or maybe something deeper. "I was s

ed his arms.

ession darkene

The weight of her words settled deep

ng?" he

a child," s

ed. "And you've n

a thin line. "Would

ith that. He barely bel

ing a distant whisper. A language neither of t

step forward. "Valesia,

eal. Then, finally, she met his gaze and said, "The voi

e words, ever