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69

Author: EphraStorm
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-20 16:16:37

Chapter 69: Fiona's POV

The first light of dawn crept down through the trees, smooth and golden, scratching against the ruins of the camp like a tentative apology. We had survived the battle, sure, but the fight was not over. Thing is, it never quite felt like it was over, not with Orin Blackclaw still running loose out there, slipping away like smoke in the wind. His followers had scattered, but the air surrounding me still felt thick, heavy. Almost suffocating.

I was standing at the edge of the camp, hands holding myself tightly so as to halt this ceaseless churn of thoughts. I looked out at the forest ahead, the endless stretch of trees becoming a dark, ominous curtain. Relief battled with anxiety in my chest. We were still standing, yes, but was that enough? It didn’t feel like winning to survive.

Behind me, footsteps crunched softly on the dirt, breaking me from the storm in my head. I didn’t need to look back to know who it was. Jason. His presence was a palpable thing — steady
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