Seraphine's POV
The drive to the Shaman's dwelling stretched endlessly before us, every mile heavy with unspoken dread. Kayne had insisted on accompanying us to his mentor's remote sanctuary, while Theodore sat rigid beside me in the backseat, his jaw clenched so tight I feared he might crack a tooth.
I reached for his hand, intertwining our fingers before pressing a gentle kiss to his scarred knuckles. "Talk to me. What's eating at you?"
His chest rose with a shuddering breath. "The last time I ventured to the Eldermere ruins, it was..." His voice cracked. "It was a nightmare I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy."
"What happened out there?"
Theodore's gaze fixed on the dense forest rushing past our window, his grip on my hand tightening painfully. "The Shadow Wolves found me. They surrounded me like vultures circling carrion, and I..." His breathing became ragged, shoulders trembling with the memory.
