Chapter 1079

But behind them, in the woods, something laughed. A sound like leaves crackling. Like fire growing.

The morning came quietly, with soft dew on the grass and a heavy silence over the camp that felt too deep to be peaceful. Jude was already awake, sitting at the edge of the hut, rubbing his thumb against the wooden handle of his blade without really thinking. Sophie stirred beside him, her eyes slow to open, but when they did, they immediately locked with his. There was no confusion in them, no sleepiness. Just the weight of what they'd seen. What they'd felt.