Chapter 102

Kaelen

The forest beyond the cliffs was too quiet.

No birds, no wind, no sound except our footsteps sinking into wet moss. The mist followed us inland, curling through the trees like smoke that had lost its fire. Every few steps, the ground gave a faint, rhythmic tremor, as though the heartbeat under the cliffs had learned how to follow.

Maren walked ahead, moving lightly despite the exhaustion in