CHAPTER TEN

The drive stretched for hours, the road winding through dense forests and rugged terrain. The deeper they went, the darker the surroundings became, broken only by the faint glow of the moon peeking through towering trees. Tilly had long since fallen asleep in the back seat, her small frame curled against Elisa's side, while Cael remained focused on the road ahead with Jason driving.

Two more cars drove one in front of theirs and one behind. They had been met at the airport private landing strip by three luxurious SUVs and guards. She and tilly had not even needed to go through airport security just an official that came to check their passports quietly.

Elisa had never felt so displaced. One moment, she had been grasping for control over her life, and now she was being taken deep into an unknown world, one she had spent her whole life been shielded from.

And yet, despite everything, she wasn't afraid. She turned to look at Cael, the reason why she wasn't.