★Nuel's POV ★
I knew time had passed when I finally regained my strength and began walking toward the exit — to leave Alpha Noca's hunting grounds. Or rather, his cursed forest, as Eryndor had called it.
My claws had vanished long before I saw Zoraya… long before she left me and stole the flag.
The light of day was dim, fading strangely, as though darkness was preparing to fall across the land. As though evening had come too soon, even though it was still early.
There was no sun. That surprised me — I had thought it would be there, biting my skin the moment I stepped out of the trees. But the sky was pale and clouded, and the air hung still.
