Chapter 37: Fractured Trust

When Zeryn returned to camp, the leader was waiting for her, his expression dark.

“Where were you?” he demanded.

“I needed some air,” Zeryn said, brushing past him.

The leader grabbed her arm, his grip firm. “Don’t lie to me. You went into the forest. Alone.”

“And?” Zeryn snapped, pulling her arm free. “Since when do I need your permission?”

“Since you started glowing like one of the spires,” the green-eyed figure interjected, joining the confrontation.

The tension in the camp was palpable. Zeryn’s fingers twitched, the shadows stirring in response to her anger. “I didn’t ask for any of this,” she said through gritted teeth. “But I’m doing my best to fix it. So unless you have something useful to say, back off.”

The leader stepped back, his gaze hard. “We’re all in this together, Zeryn. Don’t forget that.”

As the group settled in for the night, the air between them remained heavy with unspoken words.