Chapter 15
Completely Claimed
The northern trail grew rougher as the day wore on. We moved without stopping for hours, driven by the knowledge that both the collector and Thorne’s hunters were still out there. Lila’s steps had started to drag by late afternoon. Kael noticed first and adjusted our pace, but the damage was done. She was running on pure determination.
Near sundown, we reached a narrow valley with an abandoned stone outpost half-collapsed into the hillside. Kael checked it quickly and nodded.
“We are staying here tonight. The structure is solid enough and the wind will break our scent.”
Lila barely made it inside before she dropped onto a pile of old canvas in the corner and was asleep within minutes. Her breathing went deep and even. She would not wake easily.
Kael barr
