The journey back to the Iron Citadel was a blur of sirens and flashing red lights. The transport rattled through the craggy terrain, kicking up dust and debris as the wind howled through the broken windows. Camilla's mind raced, her thoughts tangled in the chaos of the battlefield, her hands still warm from the stabilizer injection she had administered to Aiden. There was something unnerving about the way his body had responded, like a ticking clock suddenly winding down.
She glanced over at him, sitting across from her. His face was impassive, his eyes hard, but she could see the way his chest rose and fell, unevenly, the pulse in his throat still too rapid for her liking. She had saved him this time, but the truth hung heavy between them—he needed her. He needed her more than either of
