AYLA'S POV
(DAY TWO OF THE JOURNEY)
The forest grew darker with each mile.
Not just visually—though the canopy was thick enough to block most sunlight. But magically. The deeper we went, the more I felt reality bending, warping, resisting our presence.
"This place doesn't want us here," Thorne muttered, hand on his sword.
"It's warded," I said, reaching out with my Luna senses. "Ancient wards. Designed to turn people around, make them forget where they were going."
"Is it working?" Kael asked.
I checked the bond connecting me to Lyra, who rode on Kael's back in wolf form—her preferred traveling method. "Not on us. The parent-bond acts as an anchor. But the warriors—" I looked at our three escorts. All of them looked confused, disoriented.
"We should turn back," one of them said. "This was a mistake."
"You can turn back," Kael said. "But we're continuing."
"My lord, the forest—"
"Is exactly where we need to be. Go. We'll manage from here."
