Chapter 24 Web Of Lies And Betrayal

• The forest closed in around them as they continued deeper into its heart. Lyra could feel the weight of the orb against her back, a constant reminder of the power it contained and the lengths to which others might go to possess it. The air was thick with tension, and she found herself glancing over her shoulder at Serin more often than she cared to admit.
• The group trudged onward, Serin leading them with a confident stride, but Lyra couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. The woods were eerily silent, the usual sounds of wildlife absent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for something to happen.
• “We should rest soon,” Ryan suggested, breaking the uneasy silence. “We can’t keep going like this without a break.”