Limitless

A few minutes earlier…

I blinked through the forest one step at a time, moving in quick bursts from tree to rock to fallen branch. My eyes were sharp, my nerves tighter than ever, scanning every corner for even the faintest trace of Zarah—footprints, bent leaves, anything.

But there was no sign of her. No footprints. No scent trail. Nothing.

"Where the hell did she go?" I muttered, appearing beside a moss-covered tree.

I retraced my path, warping back to the area where I'd fought the trolls. The blood was still fresh, seeping into the soil. But Zarah? Gone. Vanished like smoke.

Panic was creeping in, not loud or sudden, but slow—like a cold hand pressing against the back of my neck. I tried to push it down, but the longer I searched, the more it scratched at my thoughts.

Had she wandered off and gotten lost?

Or worse—had something found her?

No. I shook my head hard. "Positive thoughts. Focus."