Emilia's POV
The forest hummed. That strange, unearthly barrier I’d somehow created vibrated like a living thing, the air thick with energy and the copper tang of something I didn’t understand. Every breath tasted like lightning, sharp and dangerous, as if the night itself held its breath along with me.
And him.
The beast.
Maximus.
He stood at the edge of the trees, massive and terrifying, black fur slick with moonlight, claws digging deep trenches into the wet earth. His eyes burned into mine, unblinking, feral.
A single step forward, and the sound of it shattered the silence. His growl followed, low and thunderous, vibrating through my bones until my knees threatened to buckle.
My heart leapt into my throat.
But I didn’t back away.
I couldn’t.
Slowly, I lowered my trembling ha
