Chapter 24

I felt the fear in my body as I held Alina close, her faint breath tickling the side of my neck. My instincts were on high alert, scanning the woods around us for any signs of danger. I wasn’t sure what exactly had happened, or how Emiel even got close to her, but now, with Alina crumpled in my arms, the only thing that mattered now was getting her out of here, away from any potential threats. “Kendrick! Jordan!” I shouted, my voice sharp with urgency. I kept my eyes fixed on the path ahead, hoping they would arrive soon. The weight of Alina’s limp form in my arms only made my sense of urgency sharper. I had to get back to a more localized setting so that there was no chance of an ambush. The sound of footsteps broke through the silence, and Jordan emerged from behind a tree, his brow furrowed with concern. The moment he saw me, his eyes scanned Alina’s pale face, and his expression shifted to one of immediate alarm. “What the hell happened?” Jordan demanded, stepping forward quickly.