Chapter 12

• The night air was thick with the scent of blooming jasmine as I slipped out of the mansion, my heart pounding in my chest. Every step toward the Grand Garden felt heavier, doubt creeping in like a shadow. Was this a mistake? But something deeper, something instinctual, pulled me forward. Before I could second-guess myself, I was already standing beneath the twisted branches of an ancient oak, the darkness swallowing me whole.
• Minutes passed. Silence settled, save for the distant rustle of leaves. A chill prickled my skin, and I turned on my heel, ready to retreat—when I saw him.
• A tall figure stood just beyond the moonlight’s reach, cloaked in shadow. His hood concealed his face, but there was no mistaking the weight of his presence.