As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the group continued their ride, feeling the warmth of midday wrapping around them. Adrian's horse moved at an even pace, but its rider was less than comfortable.

Behind him, Hestia sat with the same languid ease she carried everywhere, her arms draped lightly around Adrian's waist. "I must say," she murmured, her voice barely carrying over the rhythmic sound of hooves on dirt, "this isn't the worst way to travel."

Adrian glanced over his shoulder, his brow furrowed. "You're enjoying this too much."

"I don't see the harm," Hestia replied with a soft laugh. "You're sturdy, and the view isn't bad."

The reaction from the others was less than enthusiastic. Abyss, riding beside them, tightened her grip on her reins, her violet eyes flashing. "You couldn't have walked? Or ridden with anyone else?"

Eris, from a few paces back, gave an exaggerated groan. "Hestia gets the best seat in the house, and for what? Yawning at us?"

Lilith, however, smirked, her crimson eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, don't be jealous, Eris. I'm sure Adrian will let you ride on him if you ask nicely. Or… not."

"Keep talking, Lilith," Eris snapped, her emerald eyes narrowing. "See where that gets you."

Adrian sighed, the tension crackling in the air around him. "Can we not do this now? Hestia's riding with me because we don't have an extra horse. That's all."

"Of course," Abyss muttered in irritation. "Pure practicality."

Hestia yawned dramatically, resting her chin on Adrian's shoulder. "You all sound so tense. Maybe you should try some deep breathing. Or a nap."

"That's rich coming from you," Eris muttered under her breath.

Adrian didn't bother responding, focusing instead on the path ahead.

The terrain had grown rockier, the wide fields giving way to clusters of trees and uneven ground. The faint sound of rushing water in the distance signaled a stream nearby—an ideal place to rest and regroup.

When they stopped to rest, the group gathered by the stream. The horses drank greedily, their riders stretching sore muscles and sharing a quick meal.

Hestia, of course, found the most comfortable spot to sit—a patch of grass in the shade of a tree—and reclined as though she were on a chaise lounge.

Adrian crouched by the water, filling his canteen. He caught Hestia watching him, her marine blue eyes thoughtful.

"You've been quiet," he said, tilting his head toward her.

"I've been thinking," Hestia replied, her tone uncharacteristically serious.

"Should I be worried?"

Hestia smiled faintly. "Probably. I've been having… visions. They're not clear, but I see glimpses of some plans… probably this Shadow Court thingy you have been talking about but… They're… unsettling."

Adrian straightened, his interest piqued. "What kind of visions?"

"Fragments," Hestia admitted. "Faces I don't recognize. Blood. Fire. A storm unlike any I've ever seen. And at the center of it all… Selene."

The group fell silent at her words, all eyes turning to Selene. She sat apart from the others, sharpening her dagger with precise, calculated movements. Her silver eyes didn't lift from her task, and her expression remained cold and unreadable.

"Selene?" Adrian asked in shock.

She didn't look up. "What about me?"

Hestia pushed herself up slightly, resting her weight on her elbows. "You're important. I don't know how or why but she's here for a reason. That I know."

Selene's hands stilled, her grip tightening on the dagger. "I don't feel important."

"That doesn't change the truth," Hestia said simply.

Abyss scoffed, crossing her arms. "You're basing this on fragments of visions? That's thin, even for you."

Hestia shrugged lazily. "I didn't say I had all the answers. Just that Selene matters more than any of us understand."

Eris leaned back against a nearby tree, her face twisted in a scowl. "So what? We babysit her now? Because if that's the plan, count me out. She's capable enough on her own."

The conversation was quickly spiraling, and Adrian raised a hand to regain control. "Enough," he said firmly. "Hestia's visions might be unclear, but we can't ignore them. If Selene has a role to play, we'll figure it out together."

Selene finally looked up, her silver eyes meeting Adrian's. "I don't need anyone to watch over me," she said flatly. "I'll do what needs to be done, no matter what it is."

Adrian nodded, sensing the resolve in her voice. "Good. Because we'll all need to be at our best for what's coming."

As they resumed their journey, the tension lingered. Hestia's words had planted seeds of doubt and speculation, and the group was divided on how to proceed.

Abyss rode close to Adrian, her violet eyes scanning the horizon. "We should be more aggressive," she said in a voice low enough that only he could hear. "Strike at the Shadow Court directly. Waiting only gives them more time to act."

"And more time for us to prepare," Adrian countered. "We can't afford to rush in blind."

"Preparation won't matter if they find us first," Abyss argued.

Behind them, Ava joined the conversation, her golden eyes bright with full intensity. "Charging in without a plan is reckless. We need to think strategically, not emotionally."

Abyss glared at her. "And what would you suggest, Ava? Sitting in a council chamber while they hunt us down?"

"That's enough," Adrian said, his voice cutting through the argument. "We all want the same thing—to stop the Shadow Court. Let's focus on that instead of tearing each other apart."

Eris, riding a few paces back, snorted. "What's the fun in that?"

Hestia, once again leaning against Adrian as they rode, gave a soft laugh. "You all make it sound so exhausting. Maybe if you took a page out of my book, you'd live longer."

Lilith rolled her eyes. "Somehow, I doubt napping through our problems will solve anything."

Hestia tilted her head, her marine blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "You'd be surprised."

Adrian sighed, his patience wearing thin. "If everyone's done bickering, let's focus. We have a long way to go, and the Shadow Court isn't going to wait for us to figure things out."

The group was quiet and it felt a bit uncomfortable, with tension hanging in the air. Adrian focused on the trail in front of them, but his mind was filled with questions.

What was the Shadow Court planning?

What role did Selene truly play in all of this?

And could this fractured group really stand against the darkness closing in around them?

Only time would tell. But for now, all Adrian could do was keep moving forward, one step closer to the answers they desperately needed.

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