Chapter 1076
He kissed her head, rocked her gently, trying to calm her. "It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. I won’t let it take you. I won’t."
They sat like that until dawn broke.
When they returned to the others, Jude held Sophie’s hand like she was his last breath. She didn’t smile anymore. She didn’t speak much. But she stayed close to him.
The others stirred slowly. Layla stretched lazily across the moss like a cat, flashing a sultry smile in Sophie’s direction. Zoey bit her bottom lip, glancing between them with mischief in her eyes. And Rose... Rose watched Sophie for a long time, and then smiled, like she already knew.
They didn’t say anything.
The day began in silence. A strange, fragile truce settled over the group. Jude suggested they go fishing, get away from the clearing, focus on something real. Most of them agreed.
Sophie stayed beside him, her fingers always touching his wrist or his shirt or his shoulder, like physical contact was the only thing tethering her back to herself.
The river was calm, glimmering in the mid-morning light. Scarlet, Emma, and Natalie tried to make light jokes while casting their nets, and for a while, the mood almost felt normal.
Jude and Sophie sat by the bank, pretending to sort through baskets while watching Layla, Zoey, and Rose across the stream.
They were whispering. Touching. Laughing too softly.
"They don’t sleep anymore," Sophie whispered. "I heard them at night. Walking. Chanting sometimes."