CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The moon is a sliver in the sky, barely more than a whispered promise of light as we navigate through the dense thicket of the midnight woods. Alex's presence beside me is both a comfort and a reminder of the complexities my heart shouldn't be entertaining. I can feel the warmth radiating from him, even though we aren't touching—a heat that seems to beckon me closer with an unspoken invitation.
"Alex," I start, my voice barely louder than the rustle of leaves under our feet, "We need to be careful. It's best if we enter the village at different times. We wouldn't want to stir up suspicion."
There's a palpable shift in the energy between us. I sense his irritation before he even speaks, and it coils in my stomach like a warning. Alex stops walking and turns to face me, h
