Riley stumbles but I keep her upright, and Wes shifts closer to help bear her weight. The forest parts around us, the daisies lighting our way like breadcrumbs leading home.
Behind us, the caravan follows.
And ahead—somewhere in the dark—the sanctuary waits.
Chapter 36
Bree
We move through the forest in silence, the daisies lighting our path like stars fallen to earth. Riley stumbles between Wes and me, her weight shared, her breathing steadier now. Behind us, the caravan follows—all those footsteps moving as one.
Thane leads, silver eyes cutting through the dark. Gray ranges ahead in half-shift, senses sharp. Rhett’s flames pulse steady, anchoring the center of our formation. Jace and Stellan flank the sides. Seth brings up the rear, silent as always.
The forest feels different now. Lighter, like it’s been holding its breath and finally let go.
Another set of footsteps behind us—quick but unhurried.
I glance back. Silver-rimmed eyes catch the light.
Zira.
“Sources say the sanctuary’s empty,” she calls, falling into step beside Thane.
I slow, turning. “Empty?”
She nods, then spots Riley and stops short—double-take, eyes wide.
“Oh.”
“She’s with us,” I say quietly.
Zira’s gaze flicks to me, then back to Riley. “Looks that way.” Another beat. “Phil and the Counsel are already moving. They’re calling it theirs now. The sanctuary. Determined to keep what they’ve ‘reclaimed.’ Should be here in a few days.”
Thane mutters a curse under his breath. Stellan’s jaw tightens.
“That gives us a few days. Then we’ll show them what reclaimed really means,” I say.
The words come out steadier than I feel. But they’re true.
The group keeps moving, faster now. Riley leans heavier on Wes, exhaustion catching up. I ease back, letting them move ahead.
Theo’s a few steps behind, eyes distant but aware. Always aware.
I fall into step beside him.
He glances at me, the corner of his mouth lifting. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I look ahead at the others, at Riley’s silhouette between Wes and Gray now. “I think so.”
“You did good back there.”
“I did what felt right.”
“That’s the same thing,” he says quietly.
We walk in silence for a moment, the forest breathing around us. The daisies glow brighter where our feet touch the earth, like the land itself is welcoming us home.
“You said that to me once,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them. “That thing about being seen.”
