Natalie~
I stood there, my heart pounding fast in my chest, as Rayma's words hung in the air like a challenge. "Now that everyone's here, shall we begin?" His voice was so calm, so utterly unruffled, as if he'd just invited us all to a casual tea party instead of summoning gods from the ether. The clearing felt smaller now, the ancient oak looming like a silent witness, its branches whispering secrets in the wind. Zane's grip on my hand was iron-tight, his body heat radiating protectively against me, but even he seemed frozen, his blue eyes now red and wide with a mix of awe and wariness.
