The sun barely kissed the horizon as the group prepared for departure. Mist curled around the trees like whispering ghosts, and the air smelled of moss and something darker—like the calm before a storm. Evelyn stood tall at the head of the scouting unit, her armor snug and silent, her eyes fixed on the distant outline of the Northern Hills.
Beside her, Damien adjusted his belt of daggers. His gaze flicked to her, guarded but soft. “You don’t have to go in first.”
“I do,” she said firmly. “This is my fight.”
From behind them, Kendall approached on horseback, leading two more mounts. “We’re all going, remember? You’re not walking into this alone, Evie.”
Evelyn smiled faintly, accepting the reins from him. “Thanks, big brother.”
Caleb joined them with four warriors and Maera, who held a
