The Prophecy's Reject

ia'

st seeme

miles and it didn't look like

e dark. His steps were silent, confident, like the night knew

now. Each breath I took out here t

n muttered with

, clutching the stra

try ha

ruel, just blunt, a man made

," my feet dragged as I

, his chest heaving

I can walk Zylia. You

nt slightly, my palms

Zylia. Five min

said, resting m

tood alert like he wa

I said, tapping

e's up."

n't use a second out o

a root. Mason reached out instinctively, steadying me by the arm. His

going," he said, voi

m trying,"

his lips. "You talk too muc

not s

d a brow

t by pale moonlight. Shapes moved in the shadows, me

moke, blood, and something fe

e of the clearing. "Welc

ations fell silent. The camp smelled of

" a voice called

didn't

red. "You bringin' us Silv

oat we

imply. His tone was enough to

re babysitting now,

rp enough to silence him.

st there." He pointed to a half-c

ated. "

f hell." He walked off be

my bag inside and sat on the cold ground, hugging my knees

ght, rough, dangerous. Someone

ds. There were no rules here, no

ad against my arms

ted to

lf. And now, no

*

ow when sl

my eyes, I wasn't

ir shimmered like water, and somewhere in the distanc

ing. The forest was g

hair flowing like moonlight

oon G

ing through one. "Child of flame," she whispered. "

on't... I don't under

y cheek. Warm. Real. "You were born to balance li

e world

ancing at the rhythm of my breath. I raised my ha

asked, voi

er. "Because you were

n she v

with

y palms glowed faintly, silver threads flickering

e a dream.

ces rose, te

ter come see this

gues gathered near the edge of camp. Mason stood among them, looking

t caught the

ange

rt sto

was t