Chapter 95. Temple

Lex’s POV

Lilly’s heart thundered in her chest, the rapid beat echoing her uncertainty. The unknown pressed in around us, thick as the vines we cut through, but her fear didn’t deter me. If anything, it made me more determined to earn her trust.

I sliced through another stubborn bush, my claws parting the branches with effortless precision.

“I hope she’s taking notes,” Lotus grumbled just behind me, his tone laced with good-natured sarcasm. “It’s a skill worth mastering.”

“She’s more focused on not getting lost than on my technique,” I replied quietly, glancing back at Lilly.

Lotus rolled his eyes but said nothing more, his attention never straying far from her. I couldn’t blame him—her presence demanded it.

The roar of the waterfall grew louder, the sound swelling until it filled the air with anticipation. We were close now. Just a few more steps, and we would reach the hidden gem I treasured above all else.

“We’re here,” I announced