The forest was quiet, save for the crunch of boots on soil and the rustle of wings. The night air clung damp and cool, heavy with the promise of rain.
Jane walked at Levi's side, her robot arm flexing quietly with each step. Every now and then, her gaze slid toward the demon queen—checking, measuring, making sure the recovery had held. Levi moved steadily, her black wings folded close to her back, her golden eyes sharp as ever.
Behind them, Mira carried a pack stuffed with salvaged tools, while Harrow scanned the dark with restless eyes. "We shouldn't be on open roads," he muttered. "If Shax has scouts, we're walking targets."
"We can't stay buried forever," Mira replied, adjusting the strap on her shoulder. "We need supplies. Information. Somewhere to regroup."
Levi's voice cut through their bickering, calm but firm. "We head north. There are ruins there—older than the dragon's reign. Old magic still clings to the stones. It will mask us."
Jane tilted her head, studying her. "How do you know?"
Levi's gaze lingered on the horizon. "Because once, long ago, I built the walls myself."
The group fell silent, the weight of her words heavy in the damp night.
Jane felt a pang in her chest. To imagine Levi—not as the feared demon queen, but as a ruler who once carved sanctuaries into stone—shook her. She wanted to ask more, to press for details, but the queen's expression was distant, unreadable.
They traveled for hours until the forest thinned, giving way to an abandoned road. A broken sign leaned against a half-collapsed post, its letters faded.
"Perfect place for an ambush," Harrow muttered.
Jane adjusted her glasses. "Then we move quickly."
Levi's wings rustled, drawing Jane's attention. She realized the queen had slowed, falling into step directly beside her. For a moment, Jane thought she looked tired again, but no—the queen's gaze was steady, fixed on her.
"You keep watching me," Levi said quietly, so low only Jane could hear.
Jane blinked, caught off guard. "I'm making sure you're okay."
A small, wry smile tugged at Levi's lips. "Concern from a witch. How curious."
Jane's cheeks heated. "Don't make it sound strange. You nearly died back there."
Levi's eyes softened, gold catching faint moonlight. "And yet, here I stand—because of you."
Jane looked away quickly, focusing on the road ahead. Her heart hammered, though she tried to steady it. She could still feel the warmth of Levi's hand over hers during the recovery, the way their magic had aligned.
Up ahead, Mira called out, pointing toward the hills. "Shelter. Caves carved into the rock. We can rest there before dawn."
The group pushed on, relief flickering across weary faces. But Jane felt Levi's gaze linger on her a moment longer before the queen finally looked away, wings folding tighter against her back.
They had survived. For now. But each step deeper into the unknown carried them closer to the storm that hunted them.
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