~ Seraphina’s POV ~
The night was thick with tension, a living, breathing thing that clung to my skin like mist. The forest loomed around me, ancient trees arching overhead, their twisted branches like skeletal fingers clawing at the sky.
Every leaf seemed to murmur secrets, every gust of wind a warning. The moon hung low, a swollen silver orb bleeding pale light through the canopy, painting the world in ghostly hues of silver and blue.
I swallowed hard, the metallic taste of fear coating my tongue. Every rustle, every snap of a twig beneath my feet sent a shiver racing down my spine. I thought I’d outgrown fear. But this… this felt like something ancient reaching through the dark to claim me.
Alaric moved beside me, a shadow among shadows. His amber eyes darted around, always alert,
