The night had grown darker, the firelight casting long, flickering shadows across the camp. Isabel's heart hammered in her chest, her senses alert to every sound, every movement. The shadow she had glimpsed earlier was no longer visible, but the feeling of being watched lingered in the air. The wind had picked up, rustling through the trees like whispers of danger.
Kainen's eyes never left the treeline. His hand hovered near the hilt of his sword, his posture taut with readiness. "Stay close, Isabel," he said, his voice low but commanding. "We're not alone."
The soldiers around the campfire shifted uneasily, their eyes darting from the shadows to each other. They were trained, seasoned fighters, but even they could sense something was off. There was a quiet unease in the air, the kind th
