Heat continued to pulse beneath my skin, each nerve tingling from the confrontation in the clearing. The violet flames that encircled my wrists now flickered, small sparks creeping through my veins like restless bugs. Each heartbeat startled me, each breeze of wind, each rustling of foliage, every shake in the woods seemed amplified. The atmosphere was dense with ash and blood, infused with the keen taste of persistent magic that wouldn't dissipate.

Silas remained near, yet I sensed the strain beneath his tranquility. A tight string ran through him, poised to break with the smallest contact. At times, his hand lightly touched mine, bringing me back to reality and reassuring...