With every step, my resolve hardens, yet doubt nags at me. The forest feels like it knows I do not belong. Twisted branches snag at my clothes; leaves rustle as if whispering for me to turn back. Even the air feels thicker, resisting my presence.

But I cannot turn back. Not now. Not when every part of my being screams that this is what I need to do to understand, to find closure-if there is any to be found. Ciaran's words about Morgana, about the debts and the darkness of their world, haunt me. I need to know how deep the shadows go, and if there is a way out of them, not just for me but for anyone else who might find themselves lost as Silas did.

So I keep moving, the dim glow from the plants my only guide. Each step feels heavier than the last, and the quiet of the night is broken only by the distant call of nocturnal creatures and the rustle of leaves under my feet.

What am I doing here? The question pulses in time with my footsteps. Yet, driven by a mix of fear, anger, and a desperate need for answers, I press forward, deeper into the heart of the Enchanted Forest.

I do not know how long I have walked, but the trees are so dense that I have a hard time pushing through them. I am about to give up, but then I see the faint light in the distance.

Is it a trick?

As I move closer, the light becomes brighter. The path is clearer now, and I can make out a large building. A mansion.

Is this where Ciaran lives?

I pause at the edge of the forest, peering through the dense trees toward the mansion bathed in an eerie glow. It looms large and imposing, its architecture ancient and adorned with intricate carvings. The light emanating from the windows casts long shadows that slither across the ground like living things. My heart thuds painfully in my chest, the cold finger of dread tracing down my spine. This is where Ciaran lives, hidden away in the deepest part of the Enchanted Forest.

Gathering the last shreds of my courage, I step forward, intent on reaching the door, on demanding the answers I so desperately need. But before I can emerge from the cover of the trees, two figures burst through the mansion's grand entrance, their voices raised in heated argument.

I instinctively duck behind a large oak, my breath catching in my throat. My mind races-does Ciaran feel my presence? Can our bond alert him to my proximity?

The men are too engrossed in their argument to notice me. One is Ciaran, his face twisted in anger. The other man, who bears a striking resemblance to Ciaran, must also be a devil, his features sharp and commanding. They could be brothers, I think, watching them closely. Is this all Devils look like? So similar yet so filled with darkness?

Their voices rise and fall, and I strain to catch snippets of their conversation.

"You should not have left those bodies at the treeline, Gavin!" Ciaran's voice is furious, cutting through the night. "You need to leave."

Gavin retorts with equal heat, "And you think you can dictate what I do and where I go? This is not your domain alone."

"Shadow's End is not a place for your carelessness!" Ciaran snaps back, stepping into the moonlight, his silhouette tense. "You are drawing unwanted attention to us. This is my sanctuary, not a battleground for your escapades. I have lived here for a long time and have kept myself hidden. You will ruin that."

Gavin sneers, his voice dripping with disdain. "Since when did you grow so fond of these lands, brother? Too attached, perhaps?"

"Morgana will not be pleased with your recklessness," Ciaran warns, his voice a low growl. "You know how she values discretion."

"Morgana has no say over me," Gavin fires back, his posture rigid. "Nor over where I choose to venture."

I press myself closer to the tree, my heart pounding.

Their voices lower, words tangled in a heated whisper, too muffled for me to catch. The tension between them is palpable, even from a distance. It is clear Gavin is a problem Ciaran neither needs nor wants, especially not here, not now.

As their argument ends abruptly, Gavin storms off, his form swallowed by the darkness of the forest. Ciaran remains, standing alone in the clearing, the weight of the confrontation bending his shoulders.

I hold my breath, watching, wondering if he can sense my presence through our bond. My instincts scream to confront him, to demand answers now while the anger and confusion churn inside me. But caution holds me back, whispering to wait, to gather more before I step into the light.

This was reckless-venturing alone into the depths of a forest that harbors more secrets and dangers than I could possibly comprehend. Every instinct screams at me to turn around, to retreat to the safety of my own home where these shadows cannot touch me.

But just as I muster the courage to leave, a figure emerges in front of me, cutting off my retreat. It is Gavin, his presence imposing and his demeanor menacing. He stops a few feet away, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"Lost, little one?" he taunts, his voice cold. He steps closer, and I shrink back against the tree, my heart racing. Before I can react, he reaches out, his hand brushing against my cheek in a mock-caress that sends shivers down my spine. "Such a delicate thing, out here all alone. Are you my brother's plaything?"

I recoil from his touch, anger flaring within me. "I am not afraid of you," I manage to say, though my voice betrays the fear I feel.

Gavin laughs, a sound that chills me to the bone. "You should be." His hand moves to grip my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "You have no idea what you have walked into, do you?"

Before I can respond, a blur of motion tears through the clearing. Ciaran appears, his body slamming into Gavin with the force of a storm. They hit the ground, a tangle of limbs and snarled curses, rolling across the forest floor.

I step back, my mind reeling. The sight of them fighting-two powerful beings connected by blood yet enmeshed in a violent struggle-is both terrifying and mesmerizing. Ciaran's face is a mask of fury, every line of his body tense as he battles his brother.

"Never touch her." Ciaran growls, pinning Gavin beneath him.

Gavin sneers, struggling against Ciaran's hold. "Not willing to share, brother? Greedy."

Their words are half-lost amidst the sounds of the scuffle, their bodies casting strange, elongated shadows that dance macabrely under the moonlight. I stand frozen, unable to look away.

The fight does not last long, but when it ends, Gavin is the first to retreat, disappearing back into the forest, his figure fading into the darkness.

Ciaran stands alone, his breathing heavy, his body visibly shaking. When he turns toward me, his eyes are full of a deep, simmering anger.

"What are you doing here?" he demands, his voice strained.

I swallow hard, taking a step back. "I... I need answers."

"Answers," he repeats, the word harsh. "You could have gotten yourself killed. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for you here?"

I lift my chin, defiant. "I had to take a chance. You have not been entirely forthcoming with me."

He sighs, raking a hand through his hair. "Come inside, I will tell you anything you want to know."