The firelight flickered in the cave, casting soft, erratic shadows across the stone walls. The chill of the morning had not yet left the air, and Sera hugged her arms to her chest, trying to stave off the lingering cold. She could feel Caelum's gaze on her, even without looking. The weight of it was constant, like the presence of a storm on the horizon, both thrilling and terrifying at once.
“We'll need to move soon," Caelum said, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. His voice was steady, calm, but there was an edge to it. The same edge she had heard when he spoke of the Council and their pursuit. "They'll come for us. They're already sending patrols out. We can't stay here for long."
Sera nodded, pulling herself together. There was no use in lingering in the past. She was
