Anastasia pov

　　This momentarily lifts my heart, hopeful that we'll make it back to Ethan's castle in a few hours. I carefully rise, supporting Ethan against me, and begin to move us through the forest. Every step is a challenge, but hope is a beacon that guides me, a light in the darkness that refuses to be extinguished. I can feel the weight of Rowan's necklace around my neck, even from a distance.

　　As we move slowly, the sounds of the forest around us seem more ...