Chapter 112: The Heart of Darkness

My head pounded, a dull ache that matched the throbbing in my side where the warrior's blade had struck. I tried to move, but my hands were bound, the rough rope digging into my wrists. I blinked against the harsh light, struggling to remember how I'd ended up here.

The last thing I remembered was the battle in the grove. The surge of power as the Silverwood heart's magic drove The Order back. And then… darkness.

As my eyes adjusted, I saw the cold, stone walls of a cell. The air was damp and musty, and the only light came from a flickering torch outside the barred door. Panic surged within me, but I forced myself to remain calm. I needed to understand where I was and how to escape.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and I tensed as a figure approached. The cell door creaked open, and a tall man stepped inside. He had piercing blue eyes and a scar running down one side of his face—the leader of The Order who had attacked the grove.

"Welcome, Emily Hawthorne," he said, his voice smoot