C207 WHEN A MORTAL IS MARKED

The forest did not move after he spoke.

No leaves stirred.

No birds cried.

Even the stream behind them slowed, as if the world itself waited to hear what would happen next.

Aria stayed seated on the ground, Elara half-kneeling beside her, Damon standing a pace ahead. None of them spoke. They didn’t need to.

The blood-fed prince remained at the edge of the trees, just where he had stopped