(Olivia's POV)
The pre-dawn air bit through my clothes as I watched fifteen warriors move through their forms in the forest clearing. Without Cora's warmth flowing through me, even the mild autumn chill felt sharp against my skin. Each breath brought a reminder of her absence—a hollow space where my strength should be.
"Wake up," I pleaded silently. "I need you."
For a moment, I felt something stir—a flicker of consciousness, like embers struggling to catch flame. Cora's presence felt closer than it had in days, her emotions bleeding into mine: anger, exhaustion, and a bone-deep weariness that made my knees weak.
"You're being reckless," her voice whispered, distant but clear. "You're going to get us killed."
"Guard positions," I called out, trying to keep my voice steady despite the
