The moon hung low on the horizon, its silvery light casting long, ghostly shadows across the forest floor as Nikolai ran with Lily on his back through the dense undergrowth. His footsteps were nearly silent, a testament to the preternatural grace and stealth of his kind.
Lily felt like she was gradually growing accustomed to her new reality. Her initial sense of captivity had transformed into a partnership, a necessary alliance in their battle against the High Court and its dark machinations. Yet, despite the passage of time, Nikolai remained an enigma to her, his true motives often concealed behind layers of charm and calculated secrecy.
On this particular night, as they ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. Nikolai h
