Chapter 42: The Phantom Knights' Ambush

Ryan’s POV

This wasn’t the time to be feeling jealous over every interaction—but really, could I be blamed when Isaac was hovering over my woman like a shadow?

Let me just lead the way. The less I see, the better for the both of us.

We pressed on, and as we did, the forest thickened around us, swallowing what little light remained. The shift was gradual, but undeniable—like slipping into a dream that didn’t want you to wake.

Tall trees loomed above, their gnarled branches knitting together in twisted formations that blotted out the sky. The air smelled of wet earth and pine, thick with the memory of a rain that had stopped not long ago. Each step landed in mud with a soft, reluctant squelch, making stealth impossible.

All around us, faint, unfamiliar sounds stirred—dull and distant beneath the snap of twigs, bird cries, and the occasional low moan of wind pushing through the trees like something alive.