(Aria POV)
The forest was too quiet.
Too still.
As if even the trees were afraid to move after what had just happened.
Aria’s knees buckled, and three sets of hands caught her at once — warm, shaking, desperate. Her shadows curled around her legs like frightened children, trembling as if they weren’t sure if they were hers anymore.
Dominic pulled her against his chest, heart racing like a storm.
“Breathe, Aria. Just breathe for me.”
Adrian’s hand was on her back, rubbing slow circles that did nothing to mask his trembling. He kept glancing toward the darkness where Lucy had disappeared, jaw ticking like he was imagining tearing through the forest and ending her.
Lucas… didn’t touch her at first.
He simply knelt in front of her, golden eyes burning. Not with anger. Not with dominan
