The sight before them looked almost ordinary.
A campfire.
People laughing.
Music drifting through the trees.
The horses grazing peacefully near the edge of the clearing.
If not for everything that had happened over the last hour, Liam might have believed it himself.
Instead, his eyes remained fixed on the scene without blinking.
Something was wrong.
He just didn't know what yet.
Without taking his eyes off the clearing, he quietly raised one hand.
"Stay here."
Nobody argued.
Tatiana glanced at him but said nothing. She knew that look. Whenever Liam wore that expression, it meant his instincts were screaming louder than his words.
"I'm just going to take a closer look."
His voice remained calm.
"If anything happens…"
He smiled faintly.
"…you'll know."
Before anyone could respond, Liam stepped out from behind the trees and slowly walked toward the clearing.
Every step was careful.
Measured.
His senses stretched outward in every direction.
