Chapter 15 Bound By Blood

• The full moon hung high and bright, casting a pale silver light over the camp. Shadows stretched long beneath the towering trees, and the night air was thick with anticipation. Ivy stood near the fire pit, her eyes reflecting the flickering flames, a restless energy pulsing beneath her calm exterior.
• Beside her, Kael’s presence was a steady anchor in the shifting tide of emotions. He watched her quietly, sensing the storm behind her steady gaze. “Can’t sleep?”
• Ivy shook her head, the cool air brushing strands of hair from her face. “Too much on my mind. The past, the traitor, the rogues… and now this Mark. Sometimes it feels like everything is closing in.”