CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
The forest gives way to a clearing, and there it is—the cabin. A solitary refuge hidden among the whispering pines of the mountain. My heart hammers in my chest, not just from the climb but from the anticipation. Henry grips my hand tighter as we step closer, his blue eyes reflecting a mix of hope and fear.
"Is this it?" His voice barely rises above a breath, blonde hair clinging to his forehead.
"It has to be." I squeeze his hand back.
We ascend the creaky wooden steps, each groan of the timeworn planks like a herald announcing our arrival. The door inches open with a gentle push, revealing the scholar's crowded sanctuary—a room where books fight for space with scattered artifacts of our kind.
"Hello?" My voice catches on the last syllable, betraying a nervousness
