(Zina's POV)
The battlefield was eerily silent now, the clash of claws and teeth replaced by the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. The metallic scent of blood still hung thick in the air, a stark reminder of the chaos that had just unfolded. My muscles ached, my heart still racing as I turned to where Jared stood, his eyes scanning the aftermath of the fight.
I could tell he was looking for me.
When our gazes met, his tense expression softened for just a second before hardening again. He strode toward me, his tall, commanding frame cutting through the lingering fog of war. But it wasn't me he was staring at now.
It was Elara.
She stood a few paces behind me, her posture rigid, her face unreadable. The wind toyed with her long, dark hair, whipping it across her sharp features, but she didn't move. She just stared at Jared with a look I couldn't decipher.
