The forest teemed with restless energy—branches cracked underfoot, and distant birdcalls fell into an uneasy silence, as if the trees themselves conspired to hold their breath. Mist coiled through the underbrush, wrapping the narrow trails in a ghostly veil. Each step was a gamble, the uneven ground ready to shift and betray at the slightest misstep.
Taryn's lungs burned with every sharp inhale, her heart pounding a furious rhythm in her chest. There it was again, that faint pulse at the back of her mind—a tether she couldn't shake. Lucien's presence pressed against her awareness, not just beside her but within her, a constant thrum that mirrored her own heartbeat. Through the bond, she could feel the dull throb of Lucien's shoulder, each step amplifying the shared burden. It wasn't just her body she was fighting for anymore—it was his too.
