Aiden's POV

The air was very thick with tension as the eyes of the rogue leader pierced through me, charged with both wrath and perverse joy. 

 

Around us, it felt like the forest was tightening its fist, making the darkness look denser and more menacing.

All my muscles were coiled, waiting for an inevitable confrontation. Hayley was standing next to me; her hand held mine firmly as if it would save me from despairing this night.

"Hayley, are you ready for this?” I asked in a whisper.

She nodded at me while continuing to focus on the rogue leader. “I’m ready. We have come too far to turn back now,”...