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Chapter 22

Author: promluchi
last update Last Updated: 2025-10-14 03:14:27

They got to the river right before the sun peeked up. A skimpy fog sort of floated over the top, like some kind of breath caught in between places you can't quite see. Selene pulled her horse to a stop at the edge, her heart picking up speed as the air around them got heavier, more hushed, like it was paying attention on purpose. The water moved a bit, not calm at all; it swirled on itself and brought along sounds that had nothing to do with breeze or flow.

Aurek got off his horse first thing, eyes sweeping the shadowy trees ahead. We will rest here, he said in a low voice. He tried to make it come out firm, but she caught the tiredness underneath, the leftover noise from the fight, and those tricky words from the envoy still bouncing around in his head. He walked like someone held together by pure habit, but his eyes, those hot, fidgety ones, kept drifting to the river like it was calling him out.

Selene hung back in the saddle just a second more. Something about that river felt off,
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