Carter's POV
I don’t remember the journey back.
Not the trees. Not the blood soaking through my ribs. Not even Evie’s voice cursing under her breath as she dragged me across uneven ground.
What I do remember: what looped in my mind like a sick, never-ending echo,was Ruby’s face.
The way she looked at me when she said, “I’m not giving up. I’m buying us time.”
The softness in her eyes when she kissed me, like she was memorizing the shape of my mouth.
And the way she didn’t turn back once as Jake led her away.
That was the last thing I saw before the pain swallowed everything.
I woke up in a stranger’s bed two nights later.
The room smelled like antiseptic and pine. My side was stitched and bandaged. My mouth tasted like metal and dust.
I tried to sit up and failed.
A sharp, seari
