The forest air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. I woke with a start, my pulse racing. The familiar ache in my chest was back, a constant reminder of the bond between Ryker and me—whether I wanted it or not. I shifted, only to realize I was no longer in the cold, wind-swept cliffs where Kael had confronted me. Instead, I lay in a bed of soft moss, nestled beneath the canopy of towering trees, their shadows stretching like protective sentinels around me.
Kael was seated beside me, his gaze intense and unwavering, as if he were waiting for me to speak first. His presence felt both comforting and unsettling, like the kind of danger you couldn't avoid, no matter how hard you tried.
I sat up, shaking my head to clear the fog. "Where am I?"
"You're safe," Kael said quietly, his
