I felt my skin vibrate from the cold air lashing. We walked into the woods, a faint outline of the moon accompanying our every step. Soon, Ria and I burst out into a wide field. Up ahead was a shirtless Killian. He had his back on us. As if sensing our presence, he whipped his neck in our direction.

"Thank you, Ria," he said, his throaty voice blending into the moonlight haze.

Ria bowed her head to him, turning to face me. She sent a worried look my way before ...