The forest was unnervingly quiet as we pushed forward, the chaos of the rogue camp fading behind us. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath, but there was no time to rest. Dahlia leaned heavily against me, her steps faltering with every stride. “You’re slowing down,” Kai said, his tone sharp but not unkind. “She needs a break,” I shot back. “No time,” Elias growled, scanning the trees with sharp eyes. “That thing is still out there, and we’ve already drawn too much attention.” “I’m fine,” Dahlia whispered. It was a lie, and we all knew it. “You’re about as fine as a broken bone,” I muttered, but kept moving. We finally stumbled into a small clearing. Elias held up a hand, signaling us to stop. “This spot is defensible,” he said. “We’ll rest here for a moment.” I helped Dahlia sit against a fallen log. Her face was pale, and beads of sweat glistened on her forehead. She avoided my gaze, her guilt practically radiating off her in waves. “Don’t start,” she said bef
Last Updated : 2024-12-19 Read more