Chapter 28

Late one evening, after an exhausting day of training, Alex and Lila sat by the fire in the small, secluded cabin where they had been staying. The night was cool, the crackling of the fire the only sound cutting through the silence. Samira had fallen asleep in the corner, her breathing soft and steady, completely worn out from the intensity of the day.

Alex’s gaze lingered on her for a long moment, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest as she slept. The weight of everything—the battles, the training, the amulet, the danger—seemed to press harder on him at that moment. He had been too focused on his own path, his own struggles, to fully realize what Samira had been sacrificing by staying by his side.

Finally, he turned to Lila, his voice low and hesitant. “I can’t believe she’s still here.”

Lila, who had been tending to the fire, glanced up at him, her eyes catching the flickering light. “Samira’s loyalty runs deep. It’s clear she cares about you, Alex.”

“I know,” Alex