The forest air was thick with smoke and tension. Charred trees stood like blackened sentinels, and Kael noticed the scorched earth moved unnaturally, patterns almost deliberate.
"This isn't random," he murmured, brushing ash from his cloak. Lira's hand brushed his wrist, grounding him. "Someone—or something—did this."
They moved cautiously, senses sharp. Their teamwork was seamless; Kael's Ember Core flared slightly in response to threats, and Lira instinctively positioned herself to shield him. Every glance, every small touch reinforced the intimacy they had begun cultivating.
From the shadows, a faint flicker of movement caught Kael's eye. Not flame, not wind—something calculating. They pressed forward, hearts beating in sync, unaware that eyes watched them from deeper in the trees.
End of Chapter Chapter 28-