“Why is this so hard?” Melody murmured, her voice barely louder than a whisper. She rubbed her tired eyes, the weight of sleepless nights evident in the dark circles beneath them, and her gaze swept the forest with a desperate intensity. “Why can’t I find him?”
The rustle of leaves behind her made her turn sharply, heart pounding.
“Melody?”
Frederik’s face emerged from the darkness, etched with concern. His eyes, a piercing blue, searched her expression. “I saw you leave. I thought I might find you out here.”
Melody stood up, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her fingers trembled as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice tight. “Just needed some air. It gets a bit suffocating in there.”
Frederik nodded, stepping closer. His pres
