Chapter 37: Allies in the Dark

The tension in the air was almost palpable as Rowan led me deeper into the forest, away from the heart of Silverwood.

We moved silently, the only sounds being the rustling leaves under our feet and the occasional snap of a twig. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a mistake.

Rowan had always been a wild card, someone I trusted but never fully understood. Now, he was asking me to place my faith in something—or someone—I knew nothing about.

“Rowan,” I whispered, my voice cutting through the darkness. “Where exactly are we going? And who are these allies you keep talking about?”

Rowan glanced back at me, his expression inscrutable. “We’re almost there, Sera. Just trust me. You’ll see soon enough.”

Trust. It was a word that had become almost meaningless over the past few weeks. Trust had been shattered, twisted, and manipulated until it was unrecognizable. But Rowan had never led me astray before.

He’d been with me since the beginning, through every battle, every loss. If there