How long could we keep running? What would happen when Asher woke?
Sleep claimed me slowly, my thoughts tangled with worry and fleeting moments of hope.
I woke at sunset and for a few moments, watched Asher’s lifeless form on the bed. His skin was pale, almost translucent, but his chest remained still.
I ran a hand through my hair. It had been almost a full day, and there was still no sign of change.
He looked the same—cold, unmoving, and eerily silent.
I decided to clean him up, grabbing a cloth and basin of water from the corner of the room.
The blood on his face had dried, staining his cheeks and neck like a grim reminder of how close I’d come to losing him.
As I wiped away the dried blood, my movements slowed. He looked peaceful, like he was simply sleeping.
My fingers lingered on his jawline for a moment longer than necessary before I stood, forcing myself to focus.
We couldn’t stay here. It was only a matter of time before Declan or Bram caught up with us. While I loathed to leave Asher like this, I needed to do some scouting.
The first thing I did was retrace my steps from yesterday. It took half an hour to locate the abandoned barn where I’d left the jeep.
A chill skittered down my spine, my senses sharpening.
Something was wrong. I crouched low, blending into the shadows as I scanned the area.
Voices. Human, rough, and too close for comfort. I crept closer, peering through a broken slat in the barn wall.
Declan and his team were inside, their flashlights sweeping across the dark interior.
The beam of one light landed on the jeep, then shifted to the ground where Asher's jacket lay discarded. I silently cursed myself. I should’ve gotten rid of it.
One of the hunters picked it up, holding it high like a trophy.
“This is his,” the hunter said, his voice tinged with satisfaction.
Declan’s face was hard as stone, his jaw clenched tight. “Spread out,” he ordered. “They can’t be far.”
I silently cursed. My first instinct was to charge in and end this, but that would get me killed. Worse, lead them straight to Asher.
I needed to be smart, methodical. So I remained where I was, but I didn’t need to wait long.
The first hunter came too close to where I was hiding. His footsteps crunched against the gravel, the barrel of his rifle swinging side to side.
I lunged silently, wrapping an arm around his throat and dragging him back into the shadows. I squeezed his throat.
He struggled, but it was over in seconds. His body went limp, and I lowered him to the ground.
One down.
The second hunter didn’t see me coming. I crept up behind him as he inspected the barn’s corner.
With a swift motion, I grabbed his head and twisted. The crack echoed faintly, drowned out by the rustling of the wind.
By the time I reached the third, my luck ran out. He turned just as I approached, his flashlight catching me mid-stride.
“Here!” he shouted, raising his rifle. The shot rang out, grazing my shoulder.
Pain flared, but it only fueled my resolve. I was on him before he could fire again, slamming him into the barn wall.
