The cool night air, thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, was a stark contrast to the oppressive gloom of the secret passage.
Vera breathed it in deeply, a small shiver tracing its way down her spine – not from cold, but from the sudden, exhilarating freedom of the open sky.
For several heartbeats, none of them moved. They stood at the edge of the forest, staring into the vast darkness stretching before them.
The barrier that had sealed the castle grounds was truly gone. The ancient magical pressure that imprisoned every witch in the castle had vanished, leaving behind only the restless whisper of trees and the distant rumble of thunder.
Valerian's gaze swept across the forest, and there was no sign of Aurelia and no sign of Seraphielle. Only darkness everywhere and beyond the forests. His jaw tightened.
