“Go, Leanna!” he yelled, urging me to be safe while he faced the dreadful situation himself.
But I couldn’t just leave him. The thought of abandoning Rigz to face these monsters alone made my stomach twist. “No! I can’t–”
“Leanna,” he growled, his eyes meeting mine for a fleeting moment, fierce and commanding. “You promised to protect that library. Don’t break your promise now. Ride!”
My throat felt squeezed, but I nodded, the intensity of his words sinking in. With one last glance back at him, I urged Astra forward. My heart was breaking as I left Rigz behind to face the rogues alone.
The sounds of the fight faded as we rode deeper into the forest, but the danger wasn’t over. The shadows seemed alive, shifting and closing in around us. Astra snorted nervously, her hooves skidding on t
