The night had become a living thing. Fog twisted through the forest like a serpent, curling around the trees, wrapping the broken undergrowth in a ghostly shroud. Every step we took sank into damp earth, hidden roots threatening to trip us, every shadow a potential predator. My chest felt tight, lungs screaming for air, while my pulse raced uncontrollably—not only from fear but from the searing heat of Dante pressed against me, guiding me through the dark.

His hand found mine instinctively, fingers curling around mine with a grip that was both gentle and iron-strong. Heat radiated from him like fire, searing through the thin layers of my clothing, and...