The path narrowed until the trees knit together overhead, sealing the light away. The air was thick with the scent of wet moss and iron, the sort of place where sound didn’t travel far and lies didn’t survive long.

Killian moved in silence, every sense stretched tight. I could almost feel his instincts brushing against mine, an invisible tether pulsing between us.

“Where are we?” I whispered.

“The Hollow’s spine,” he said. “No one comes this deep unless they’re ...