Audrey’s POV
For a long moment, none of us moved.
We stood in the clearing, breathing hard, weapons still gripped in our hands. The rogues were gone, but their presence lingered in the air like a shadow.
Kade had let us go. Again.
And that scared me more than if he had fought us.
Aiden was the first to speak. "We need to get back. Now."
No one argued.
We moved quickly through the forest, staying alert. My pulse was still racing, my thoughts tangled.
Why let us go? Why keep warning me instead of attacking?
I didn’t have the answers. And that was the worst part.
By the time we reached Wistwood, the sun was dipping below the trees. The packhouse stood tall in the fading light, the sounds of training in the distance.
We walked through the gates, tense and quiet.
Mira glanced at me.
