Violet
The border markings appeared just as exhaustion finally caught up with me.
Stones spaced far apart from one another marked the edge of neutral territory. Beyond them, the forest was subtly different. The trees were more orderly, and the undergrowth seemed to have been deliberately cleared in patterns that suggested regular patrols.
We had finally arrived at Orpal's territory.
I stopped at the boundary line, swaying slightly on my feet. My vision blurred at the edges, and I blinked hard to clear it.
This neutral zone had been larger than I had expected. I hadn't slept for three nights in a row now. Not since he had been following me. The thought of closing my eyes with him nearby made me uncomfortable, so I simply didn't until I had a brilliant idea after the first night with him.
