Chapter 120

Thane cradled Emily's face in his hands, his gaze intense yet clouded with a gnawing unease. He took a ragged breath, the words rasping in his throat. "There's a price," he rasped, "a demand woven into the tapestry of power offered by the witch. To bind the shadows to my will, to see beyond the veiled paths, I need... a sacrifice." She stilled beneath his touch. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Sacrifice?" she echoed, her voice a mere whisper lost in the heavy silence. He swallowed, the taste of ash clinging to his tongue. "A life offered for power, that's the witch's bargain. And the more potent the sacrifice, the stronger the vision, the deeper the bond." He stared into her eyes, the truth a heavy stone in his chest. "She said... she said the most potent offering would be someone close to me. You are the only person that matters in the entire world." A tremor ran through her, but her gaze remained steady, unwavering. "Me?" she breathed, her voice surprisingly devoid of panic. "