CHAPTER SIXTY - When Time Becomes Our Enemy

Aria pressed her back against the cold stone wall, her heart pounding in her chest as she counted the seconds between guard rotations. The torchlight cast long shadows across the corridor, offering fleeting moments of darkness she'd learned to exploit during her captivity. "Three, two, one..." she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. The sound of heavy boots faded around the corner. Without hesitation, she slipped from her hiding place, moving with the silent grace that had earned her respect even among Viktor's elite warriors. The air was thick with the scent of pine and magic – the latter a constant reminder of the barriers that kept her prisoner within Shadow Crest's walls. Every nerve ending in her body tingled with alertness as she navigated the labyrinthine fortress. "Just a little further," she told herself, remembering the gap in security she'd spotted three nights ago during dinner. A small window, perhaps too small for most wolves, but perfect for someone with he