The trek back to camp was uneventful in the worst way. The woods were too quiet. No birds. No scurrying prey. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath as Rhea and the others moved through the trees like ghosts returning from a forgotten war.
The stone shard pressed into her pocket with each step, its weight unnatural. She hadn’t shown it to the others since the woman disappeared—not even to Lucci. Something inside her told her not to. Not yet.
They crossed the northern ridge by nightfall. Lights flickered between the trees ahead—torches and lanterns lining the borders of Elmridge’s main camp. Soldiers moved along the barricades like shadows with sharp eyes.
As they passed through the outer patrol, a Beta named Tyus approached Isla with a curt nod and a scroll in hand.
“Council’s waiting
