Selene's POV
Together, we began our trek back to the pack, carrying the two artifacts that had cost us every ounce of courage we could summon. The forest seemed to pulse around us, alive and watchful. Every step forward reminded me that the Fallen King's reach was long, that our enemies were patient, and that the cost of failure would be unbearable.
And yet, for now, we had the Heartroot Stone.
And that was a victory worth holding onto, even as the shadows of the Everfall Forest whispered promises that the true trials had only just begun....
The forest seemed quieter than usual as Lucian and I made our way back from the Everfall Tree. The Heartroot Stone pulsed faintly in my hand, warm and reassuring, while the Veil Tear rested snugly in my cloak pocket. The tension in my muscles eased slightly with each step away from the ancient, writhing roots, but the weight of what we'd just faced still pressed heavily on my chest.
