All Chapters of The prophecy’s reject: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Zylia’s POVBy the time we made it back to the hut, night had settled thick and heavy over the trees.The air smelled like wet bark and smoke; the forest still hummed with whatever had shaken it earlier.Raven tossed her damp cloak onto the table, her expression unreadable. “Since the realm didn’t kill us yet,” she said dryly, “we should at least get dinner before it changes its mind.”Mason groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Right. Firewood. Again.”Raven arched a brow. “You coming, or freezing?”He shot her a look but pushed off the wall anyway. “Fine. But if another tree decides to fall, I’m blaming him.” He pointed at Killian, who didn’t rise to the bait, just sat by the half-dead fire, watching the embers shift.The corner of Raven’s mouth twitched. “Try not to burn the place down while we’re gone.”And then they were gone, boots crunching against damp leaves until the sound faded into the forest’s quiet.For a while, neither of us spoke.The silence didn’t feel heavy, just

Zylia’s POVRaven’s boots crunched against the underbrush as she led us deeper into the forest.The fading light of dusk filtered through the trees, painting everything in soft gold.“Alright guys, it’s high time we return back to camp, I’m sure our work here is done?” Mason echoed, keeping his gaze on me.I turned to Killian, worry and confusion written all over his face.He couldn’t possibly leave Howlborne and stay at camp with us.Was I ready to go back to camp or even Howlborne?My stomach dropped. I hadn’t thought about returning to camp. I didn’t think of where to stay after this whole thing, whatever it is, whatever it’s called, was over.“Uhm…” I bit my lip, twisting the hem of my hair.“Before we return to camp,” Raven said, glancing back at me, “I’m going to use the woods as an opportunity to teach you how to hunt for yourself.”She knew I was struggling to make a decision.Thank you. I mouthed to her.I arched a brow. “You mean, you’re going to throw me to the wolves?”“So

Zylia’s POVThe air grew colder as we moved deeper into the forest, the moonlight slipping through the canopy like pale ribbons.The storm from earlier had passed, but the ground was still soft beneath our boots, each step sinking faintly into the earth.We searched for shelter, but there wasn’t a single shack or cave in sight, just miles of shadow and trees whispering secrets to the wind.Raven sighed, brushing damp hair from her face. “Perfect. No roof, no walls, no luck.”Mason grunted. “Then we build one.” He kicked at a fallen branch, testing its weight. “Won’t be the first time.”Killian crossed his arms, his eyes sweeping over the trees like he was mapping every possible threat. “We can’t stay exposed. We’ll use sticks and bark to make a cover. Keep the fire low.”I nodded, stepping closer to the pile of broken branches. “I can help.”“You don’t have to,” Killian said quietly.I shot him a look. “I didn’t ask for permission.”For a second, his lips twitched, that faint ghost o

Killian’s POVRaven and Mason had fallen silent on their watch, shadows pacing just beyond the circle of light.But I couldn’t take my eyes off her.Zylia lay curled beside the faint flame, her breathing slow, her pulse steady again.The glow under her skin had faded to a whisper, but it was still there, silver veins tracing faint lines along her collarbone, shimmering like moonlight through fog.I’d seen magic before.Blood pacts, ancient seals, the marks that tied warriors to spirits.But nothing like that.Nothing that responded to emotion.The mark had flared when she was afraid, when I touched her.It knew me.And that terrified me more than I’d ever admit aloud.“Staring won’t make her heal faster,” Raven muttered, stepping close. Her bow hung loose in her hand, eyes flicking between me and Zylia. “You’ve been at that for an hour.”“She shouldn’t have been out there,” I said flatly.“She’s not a child, Killian.”“She’s bonded to me,” I snapped before I could stop myself. The wor

Zylia’s POVThe silver glow deepened.It rippled through the mist like veins beneath skin, spreading wider, brighter, until the entire river seemed to breathe.The sigil wasn’t just carved into the stone, it was alive.Raven stepped back, bow drawn tight. “Killian, tell me that thing isn’t reacting to her.”But Killian didn’t move.His eyes locked on mine, wild and conflicted, the bond between us crackling in the air.“Zylia,” he said slowly, “step back from the water.”I tried. I truly did.But something ancient whispered beneath the surface, soft and beckoning.My body refused to listen.The mark on my collarbone blazed, silver and searing, roots of light spiraling down my arms.The hum rose from the depths, low and harmonic, like a choir trapped under the river.“Zylia!” Killian’s voice cut through the air.I turned toward him, but the world blurred.The water surged, pulling my reflection apart into ripples of light and shadow.Then suddenly… I wasn’t there anymore.The forest was