Chapter 62:Echoes Of Defiance

The clearing was quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of Emily's breathing as she leaned against the tree. 

Damien stood at the edge of the underbrush, his silhouette a stark contrast to the pale moonlight filtering through the canopy above. 

The weight of his words, broadcast to the Council and their hunters, hung in the air like an unspoken challenge.

Emily shifted slightly, her body still tense from their escape. "Do you think they'll retaliate tonight?" she asked, her voice soft but steady.

"They will," Damien said, his tone certain. "But not recklessly.

 They'll need to regroup, assess the terrain, and figure out what kind of trap they think we've set."

Emily tilted her head toward him, her gaze unwavering. "We didn't set a trap."

"No," Damien admitted, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "But they don't know that. Doubt can be as much a weapon as any blade."