Mark’s POV

The ridge should have felt like victory.

Instead it felt like exposure.

The clearing stretched before us, pale morning light spilling across damp grass, turning every dew drop into something sharp and bright. It should have been peaceful. It should have been relief. But the forest behind us had gone too quiet, and silence like that was never empty. Silence like that listened.

Rissa stood beside me, breathing slowly, steadying herself. Her power had not vanished after she ...