Chapter 45: Do you want to be my girlfriend?
When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I noticed was firelight.
It flickered warmly above me, casting dancing golden shadows across the canopy of leaves overhead. The flames were real… crackling softly, pushing back the encroaching darkness just enough to create a fragile illusion of safety. But not enough to let any of us forget exactly where we were.
Morvalis.
We were all gathered around the small campfire. The entire group sat in a loose circle, their faces illuminated by the unsteady glow. Eyes turned toward me the moment I stirred.
They were waiting.
Even Thorne sat among them, silent and brooding, his sharp gaze fixed on the flames as if they held answers he refused to share.
