CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY NINE – A TWIST IN THE HUNT

They plunged into the crowd, dodging between revelers and market stalls. Behind them, they could hear shouts as more of Karl's men joined the chase. Cassie's mind raced as they ran. They couldn't lead Karl's men back to their hideout. They needed a distraction. An idea struck her. "Florian," she gasped, "trust me. I have a plan." Before he could respond, Cassie veered off, disappearing into the crowd. Florian hesitated for a split second before following her lead, trusting her instincts. Cassie weaved through the festival, deliberately leaving obvious traces of her passage - a knocked-over stand here, a startled exclamation there. She could hear Karl's men following, falling for her bait. Meanwhile, Florian circled around, using his enhanced senses to track Cassie's movements while staying out of sight. The chase led them to the outskirts of the festival, where fewer people milled about. Cassie's heart pounded as she realized she was running out of places to hide. Just as Karl's