My heart pounded like a war drum as I raced through the cemetery, flag clutched tightly in my jaws. The tattered red fabric fluttered in the wind, a beacon announcing my position to any pursuers. But I couldn't slow down—not when we were so close to winning.
"Left, Seraphina! Take the path through the old mausoleums!" Regina's voice echoed in my mind, guiding me through unfamiliar territory.
I veered sharply, my paws skidding on the damp earth as I darted between ancient stone structures. The fog had grown even thicker here, transforming the cemetery into a ghostly labyrinth. Weathered gravestones loomed out of the mist like silent sentinels, watching my desperate flight.
We'd found the flag exactly where Gareth had said it would be—tied to a branch of the lightning-struck oak. To my surprise, it had been unguarded. Too unguarded. It had been suspiciously easy, which meant only one thing: Landon wanted us to take it. He wanted the chase.
