Chapter 39

• Olivia’s POV
• The moment I found the crystal, everything felt different. It pulsed with a strange, ancient energy in my hand, almost like it had a life of its own. I could feel its power coursing through me, amplifying every sense, every emotion. For a brief moment, I believed that maybe, just maybe, this could be the key to everything—defeating Nate, protecting Bustan, finding out who I really was. But I didn’t get the chance to think about it for long.
• I heard the snap of a twig behind me. Before I could react, something hit me hard across the back, sending me sprawling onto the forest floor. The crystal slipped from my fingers, rolling into the shadows. Pain shot through my ribs as I struggled to turn over, gasping for breath.