Kara’s breath came in sharp gasps as she stumbled through the underbrush, her boots sinking into soft earth. The night had grown colder, the moonlight barely piercing the thick canopy above. Every shadow seemed to flicker with danger.
She called out Kol’s name, voice cracking. “Kol! Kol! Where are you?”
No answer came, only the faint rustling of leaves and the distant call of an owl. Panic rose inside her like a wave. She pressed on, moving faster now, pushing past branches that tore at her jacket and scratched her face.
Then, she saw him.
Kol lay slumped against a tree trunk, his breathing shallow and uneven. His face was pale, bruised, and smeared with dirt. One leg was bent at an awkward angle. Kara’s heart jumped.
“Kol!” she cried, kneeling beside him.
He blinked slowly, struggli
