CHAPTER 118 THE OLD ENCHANTED VILLAGE

Minerva The air crackled with an ancient energy, a palpable force sending down shivers through my spine and body. Ever attuned to the unseen currents of magic, Meredith had felt it first. Her sharp intake of breath and the sudden narrowing of her eyes had been our only warning before she announced, "We're close. The magic here is strong." Her words sent a ripple of anticipation through our small party. I glanced at Dominic, walking a few paces ahead, his broad shoulders tense beneath his leather jacket. He caught my eye and briefly nodded, silently acknowledging our path. The journey had been long and arduous, but this was the first real sign that we were heading in the right direction. The prophecy had been vague, speaking in riddles and metaphors that had taken weeks to decipher. But now, as we wound our way through the dense forest, I could feel it too—a thrumming in the earth beneath my feet, a whisper in the wind that seemed to call out to us. Meredith led the way, her st