Chapter 163 Nate's Pov

• The fire crackled, sending sparks dancing into the night sky as Layla and I sat on the worn log, the warmth seeping into our bones. We spoke in hushed tones, the weight of our conversation hanging in the air like a heavy fog.
• “I just can’t shake this feeling that we need to do something,” I murmured, my gaze fixed on the flames. “We can’t keep waiting for Augustus to make a move.”
• Layla nodded, her brow furrowing in thought. “But rushing into things blindly could be just as dangerous,” she replied, her voice tinged with concern. “We need to be strategic about this, Nate.”