ISLAND OF DESIRE: REJECTED HEIRESS
Slowly, even reluctantly, Lila and Elena began obeying his instructions rather than arguing endlessly.
Near mid‑afternoon Kael stepped briefly away toward treeline, motioning me quietly to follow.
“Look closely,” he said low, pointing toward faint marks pressed deep in soil and soft mud near stream mouth. “Heavy prints wider than human, toes blunt and spread apart, claws short but thick. They circle camp every night… moving closer now.”
My breath caught. “The things we saw… yellow eyes?”
He nodded gravely. “Stone‑skinned guardians. Twisted, slow but immensely strong, driven by ancient magic gone bitter. They feed on division and fear most of all.”