Elena
*****Nightfall — Temporary Stronghold in the Valley*****
The night came too fast.
One moment the valley was gray with exhaustion and blood-dried silence, the next it was swallowed whole by darkness and watch fires. Tents had been raised among broken stone and half-fallen pillars. Guards rotated quietly. No one celebrated survival anymore. Survival had stopped feeling like a victory.
Chase had been moved into the largest tent near the cliff wall, away from the wind. Layers of cloaks were piled beneath him. His wounds had been cleaned. Bound. Watched.
He still hadn’t woken up.
I sat on the ground beside him, back against the tent pole, knees pulled to my chest. I hadn’t realized how tightly I was holding myself together until my body started to shake for no reason at all.
Finn p
