Chapter Seventeen: The Forbidden Pact
The days that followed Darius's ominous visit were filled with unease. Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming—something darker, something that would test everything she had learned about herself, her power, and the world she had been thrust into.
The enclave was on high alert. Warriors trained more intensely, and the air felt thick with anticipation. It seemed as if the shadows themselves were watching, waiting. Even the trees seemed quieter than usual, their rustling leaves no longer as soothing as they once were. Every snap of a twig, every shift in the wind, sent a chill through Evelyn's spine. She could feel the weight of Darius's presence lingering in the air, even though he was no longer in the vicinity.
