(Aria's POV )
The forest still smelled like smoke and blood.
By the time we reached the Hollow, dawn had folded into late afternoon. The trees grew denser here, taller, older, their roots knotted deep into the earth. The air hummed with something quiet but alive, like the forest itself was watching us.
The Hollow wasn’t just a place. It was a sanctuary.
The wolves had carved it out years ago, hidden beneath layers of spellwork and earth, woven into a valley wrapped in mist. No outsider had ever set foot here and lived to talk about it. The wards thrummed as we approached, soft pulses brushing against my skin like curious fingers.
Kael’s hand was steady at the small of my back as we crossed the threshold.
The moment the magic recognized him, the barrier parted like smoke on the wind.
