The forest was a labyrinth of shadows, its ancient trees looming like sentinels against the thick mist that clung to the ground. Each step Taryn took felt heavier than the last, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her shoulders. She tightened her grip on the hilt of her dagger, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness ahead.
Behind her, Lucien moved silently, his presence both a comfort and a distraction. The tension between them was palpable, a thread stretched so tight it felt as though a single word might snap it.
Taryn's voice broke the stillness. "We've been moving in circles."
Lucien stepped closer but said nothing, his silver eyes flicking to the faint trail they'd been following.
"The Council's been through here." Taryn muttered, crouching low to inspect the ground. The disturbed dirt and broken twigs told a story she didn't like.
