I walked over to the velvet couch, my legs still feeling like they might give out at any second. The yellow fabric of my dress felt alien against my skin, a bright, cheerful color that mocked the darkness of the afternoon. Every time I moved, the fabric brushed against the raw scrapes on my thighs, a stinging reminder of the forest floor and the weight of a man who had intended to break me.
Athena stopped her pacing immediately. She looked at me, her eyes brimming with tears, her face pale and drawn. "Rachel, I... I am so sorry. This is my fault. I never should have left you there, even if you told me you wanted to stay behind for a second. I should have known better."
Before I could even open my mouth to reassure her, a low, vibrating growl ripped through the room. It was a sound that d
