The singing grew louder.
It drifted between the trees like a living thing.
Beautiful.
Ancient.
Unsettling.
The figures in white emerged from the shadows one by one.
At first, Emily counted five.
Then ten.
Then more.
They seemed to appear from everywhere at once.
Silent.
Graceful.
Watching.
The forest itself appeared to welcome them.
Branches bent slightly as they passed.
Leaves rustled softly.
Even the air felt different around them.
The Watchers moved like they belonged here.
Like they were part of the forest itself.
Nobody in Alexander's group spoke.
Nobody wanted to.
The atmosphere had become too heavy.
Too strange.
The leader of the Watchers finally stepped forward.
A woman.
Tall.
Elegant.
Her silver-white robes flowed around her like mist.
Long black hair fell over her shoulders.
And her eyes—
Her eyes glowed faintly gold.
Not unlike Seraphine's.
Not unlike Aurelia's memories.
The woman stopped several feet away.
Her gaze swept across the group.
