Chapter 33 The Heartstone's Secret

• The Silverfang Alpha stepped back, allowing the weight of the trial’s completion to settle on Meher and Ayaan’s shoulders. The air around them was thick with the energy of the Heartstone, still glowing faintly in their chests, a constant reminder of the power they had just unlocked. But even with the trials behind them, the path ahead was unclear, shrouded in darkness, like the very forest that had once tested them.
• Meher felt the familiar sense of unease wash over her. The trials had been harrowing, but they had only revealed a fraction of the danger that lay before them. Jareth was still out there, and he would not rest until he had the Heartstone for himself.
• Ayaan turned to her, his eyes steady, though she could see the lingering tension in his posture. "We’ve passed the trials, but the Heartstone still holds secrets. We’ve only scratched the surface."