The forest felt heavier than before, as if the weight of what had happened was still hanging in the air, clinging to the trees and seeping into the ground. Kane stood in the center of the clearing, her breathing uneven as the silver glow slowly faded from her veins. Her palms were still warm, as if the power inside them was lingering, waiting to surge again if she dared to call on it.
Adrian watched her with an intensity that made her skin tingle. His bare chest rose and fell with quick, controlled breaths. His body was tense, streaked with dirt and traces of the recent fight, but his eyes never left her. They glowed with a mix she couldn’t decipher, something between awe, fear, and fierce possession.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice low.
Kane shook her head even though her entire bo
