The days after Damon's ultimatum were the longest of Elara's life.
She went through the motions—healing in the hut, sitting beside Damon at meals, sleeping in his arms each night—but inside, she was hollow. Every moment was an agony of pretense, every smile a lie.
She didn't see Caleb. Didn't dare. Damon watched her constantly now, his eyes following her everywhere, his suspicion a living thing between them. She knew he was waiting for her to slip, to run, to betray him again.
And a part of her wanted to. Wanted to run to the border, to Caleb's arms, to the love that consumed her.
But she'd made a promise. And she was trying to keep it.
On the fifth day, Finn found her.
He came to the healing hut, his young face troubled, and waited until Marta was occupied with a patient before appr
