~ASHTON~

I'm taken aback as all the creatures begin to retreat, as if the Soul Keepers have issued a silent command for them to cease fighting.

Without hesitation, I surge back to the spot where I last saw Hazel, my heart pounding with anxiety. But my worst fears are confirmed—she's gone. They've already taken her, explaining why they ended the confrontation so abruptly.

A wave of intense fear floods through me, trembling in my chest as I struggle to regain control over my spiraling ...