Chapter 22 He Failed To Save Me

• The tension in the clearing began to fade as the last echoes of the battle dissipated into the stillness of the woods. The remaining shadows melted back into the trees, leaving Lily and Callan to catch their breath. Each sharp inhale filled her lungs with the scent of damp earth and pine, contrasting with the adrenaline still coursing through her veins.
• “Is everything alright?” Callan asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled around them. His voice was low and steady, filled with an undertone of concern that sent warmth flooding through Lily.
• She nodded, though her hands trembled slightly as they rested on her knees. “I’m… I’m okay,” she assured him, taking a moment to wrestle with the remnants of fear still swirling within her. “More shaken than hurt, I think.”