Ariyah's POV
Road to the Eastern Territories
My feet are bleeding.
I can feel it, the wet warmth seeping through my worn shoes with every step. The road is rough, full of stones and roots, and my feet weren't made for this kind of walking. But I don't stop. I can't stop.
Stopping feels like giving up. And I refuse to give up.
"Ariyah, please." Elara's voice is tight with worry. "We need to rest."
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine. You've been limping for the past hour."
"I said I'm fine."
She grabs my arm, forcing me to halt. "Look at me."
I turn, and the concern in her eyes makes something crack inside me. I've been holding it together for three days now. Three days of walking. Three days of pretending I'm not falling apart.
Three days of trying to forget the sound of Kael's voice
