The night had grown thick and heavy over the forest, the moon a pale sliver barely illuminating the twisting roots and mossy undergrowth. I moved carefully, the leather soles of my boots silent against the damp earth. My mind was restless, my heart still echoing with the confrontation with Marcus, the moonlit reflections, and the longing that refused to be ignored. I tried to push the thoughts aside, to focus on the solo training he had insisted on, but the pull of his presence was a constant, phantom weight.
Marcus was nearby; I could feel it like a hum beneath the earth—a subtle vibration in the air that spoke of his vigilance. He had told me to practice alone to hone my instincts, yet I could sense the invisible thread tethering him to my every movement. It made me feel both shielded a
