The night air was damp and heavy, carrying the faint tang of smoke from the burning fortress they had left behind. Each breath felt thick with tension, the forest’s shadows curling around them like living entities. The group moved cautiously, their movements deliberate and hushed, as though the trees themselves held their breath. Alessa led the way, her sharp gaze darting from one shifting shadow to the next, her body poised like a coiled spring ready to strike. Behind her, Dominic trudged forward, Lila cradled protectively in his arms. Each step sent jolts of agony radiating through his battered body, his wounds protesting the weight he bore. Yet, he refused to falter. The determination to keep her safe was etched into every strained muscle, his jaw set in grim resolve. Around them, the n
