Chapter 1203

By midday, the trail led them to another clearing, this one marked by a single great stone, carved with a spiral so deep the shadow within it seemed a portal to another world. The hum filled the clearing, loud now, insistent but not unkind, urging them closer. They approached as one, hands brushing, hearts steady, breath shared. Jude laid his palm to the stone, feeling the spiral's song pulse through him, through them all.

The spiral's hum echoed through their bones as they stood before the great stone, its carved grooves dark and deep, as if the island's secrets had bled into its heart. Jude felt the vibration in his palm where it touched the cool surface, a steady pulse that matched the rhythm of his heartbeat. Sophie came up beside him, her hand slipping beneath his, her warmth grounding him, her gaze fixed on the spiral's endless curve. Rose, ever bold, leaned in close, her breath brushing his neck, her fingers tracing the pattern just above his.