(Aria's POV )
The forest held its breath. Mist curled low over the undergrowth, weaving between the trunks like smoke from a dying fire. Every drop of rain that clung to the leaves glittered like a shard of moonlight, but there was no time to admire it. Danger was closer than the wet fog suggested.
Kael’s hand was tight over mine, guiding me through the hollowed path beneath ancient pines. My heart thumped against his chest, matching the rhythm of his careful, measured steps. But I could feel it, a shift in the air. Not just the scent of wet earth, not just the cold brushing my skin. Something else. A presence.
“Ronan,” Kael muttered, his voice low, almost a growl. The name carried weight, fear, and fury all at once. “He’s closer than we thought.”
I flinched at the sound, even though
