Book Five: Chapter 92

Velvet saw Mike collapse to the snow-covered ground, the jagged arrow protruding from his back. Her chest tightened, and it felt as though both of her hearts had stopped simultaneously. The wind, which had been biting and cold only moments ago, seemed to vanish entirely, leaving her disoriented. Despite growing up navigating these dense woods, she felt lost, utterly unsure of what to do next. Every instinct she had honed over years screamed at her to act, but panic clawed at her mind.

Yuki’s shriek shattered the tense silence, a sound of pure, untamed rage that echoed across the snowy landscape. Velvet’s eyes widened as she watched the kitsune’s auburn hair streak violently with thick, white lines, each movement of Yuki stirring violent flurries of snow that whipped around Velvet like icy specters. The world became a chaotic swirl of white, and Velvet stumbled forward, disoriented, until her hands met Mike’s frail, tremblin