Chapter Twenty: Unraveling the Threads
The night was quiet, unnervingly so. The tension that had gripped the forest earlier now hung in the air like a dense fog, every rustling leaf and snapping twig a reminder that danger was still out there. Darius's forces were closing in, but Evelyn could feel something else—something more visceral. The energy coursing through her, that primal power, was both a gift and a curse. It was a part of her now, something she couldn't escape, no matter how hard she tried.
She had fought it, tried to control it, but every time she thought she had the upper hand, the power would surge, threatening to break free. The beast within her stirred, hungry and restless, urging her to embrace what she was.
Alaric's presence beside her offered some comfort, but even he could see the struggle within her. He had known from the beginning that she was more than just a runaway bride, but this—this power—was beyond anything he had ever imagined.