James fell silent, but I could feel his frustration simmering. He didn’t understand why I was risking myself for a girl who, by all accounts, should mean nothing to me. Hell, I didn’t fully understand it either. All I knew was that the idea of losing Lisa left a hollow ache in my chest that I couldn’t ignore.
The Shadow Woods loomed ahead, a dark, ominous mass of trees that seemed to stretch endlessly into the horizon. The air grew colder as we approached, and the usual chirping of birds and rustling leaves was replaced by an eerie silence.
“Stay alert,” I commanded, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “These woods are dangerous.”
The warriors nodded, their hands tightening on their weapons. The Shadow Woods weren’t just home to rogues and wild beasts; they were a place w
