When Jinx cast the sleeping spell on Swan, Emric felt a flicker of relief. He trusted Jinx, which allowed him to shift his focus to the next pressing issue—finding Jayden and bringing him to the sanatorium.

The night was dark, with only the faintest hint of dawn on the horizon. Shadows stretched long and threatening beneath the towering trees as Emric sprinted through the forest, his breath visible in the cool air. When he reached the edge of the graveyard, his feet came to a sudden ...