The forest stretched endlessly before me, its towering trees swaying gently beneath the whispering wind. Moonlight cast silver shadows onto the mossy ground. Beneath the scent of the wet leaves, something else lingered. Something so familiar. So warm.
My heart clenched as I moved cautiously deeper into the woods. I had to find him.
"Magnus..." I swallowed, steeling myself. Then louder, I called, "Magnus!"
But only silence answered. The night was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. My pulse quickened.
'What if he's already gone?' I thought. 'What if he doesn't want to be found? What if he doesn't want me anymore?'
I shook my head, trying to push all the negative thoughts away. "He's just saved Marcus," I reminded myself. "He wouldn't just leave. He couldn't have gone too far."
'Would he?'
