Elara’s POV
The night was still fresh in my mind. Even with the first light of morning filtering through the canopy, I could still hear the whispers in the wind, still feel the cold grip of something unseen trailing along my skin. The spirits had faded with the dawn, but their presence lingered, like ghosts in my thoughts.
Kael hadn’t said much since we broke camp. He moved through the motions, packing his gear, checking the perimeter, but his usual sharp focus was dulled, his movements were heavy and slow.
I wasn’t sure when I had started noticing these things about him, the way his body stiffened when his thoughts turned dark.
We walked in silence for most of the morning, the forest around us eerily quiet. It was as if even nature had sensed the lingering energy of the spirits and de
