The forest was unnervingly quiet. No birdsong flitted through the trees, no rustling leaves hinted at hidden life. Even the wind seemed hesitant, leaving the air unnaturally still. Taryn moved carefully, her blade in hand, each step purposeful but muffled against the frost-covered ground. The tension in her chest mirrored the eerie silence around her.
Ahead of her, Kah'el walked with deliberate precision, his focus sharp as he scanned their surroundings. He hadn't spoken much since they'd split off from Lucien, and she hadn't either. The weight of last night still hung heavily between them, thick and unspoken. She hated how steady he seemed, how composed, while her thoughts churned with images of the kiss—and the way he'd looked at her afterward.
