Chapter 1317

"It's not just in us anymore," Emma added. She sat nearby with her legs curled beneath her, hands pressed to the ground as if trying to feel the island's pulse. "It's spreading. The whole island feels... alive. Breathing."

Sophie knelt at Jude's side, brushing his damp hair from his forehead. Her touch lingered, reverent. "It's not just alive," she whispered. "It's listening."

And the tree responded.

A slow creak, deep and resonant, vibrated through the grove. The trunk of the black tree pulsed faintly, and more blossoms unfurled along the branches, each one exhaling scent so heady it made Jude dizzy. The moss beneath him shimmered faintly, growing softer, more vivid, like the ground itself was purring beneath their bodies.

Then Rose stepped forward from the circle of keepers. She was radiant - her skin kissed with gold, her eyes glowing softly, and her smile no longer eerie, but utterly serene.

"You've crossed," she said.