The next morning, Emily woke with a strange sense of unease. The carriage had stopped for the night in a small, secluded clearing, and the early morning light filtered through the trees, painting the forest floor in dappled shades of gold and green. The air was crisp and cool, and the world was still and quiet.
Mia was still asleep in her arms, a small, warm ball of fluff, and Merwyn was nowhere to be seen. Again. He'd disappeared sometime in the night, leaving only a faint scent of wildflowers and a single, perfect, dew-kissed rose on the pillow where his head should have been.
Adrien was already awake, sitting by the dying embers of the campfire, a thoughtful expression on his face. Kieran was standing guard at the edge of the clearing, his sword in his hand, his red eyes scanning the shadows, a silent, vigilant sentinel.
