The light around her intensifies. Her eyes blaze with a bright white glow. Her breathing sharpens, and the glow radiates off her skin in waves. Yet, Jackson, still cradled in her arms, remains unaffected by it. The same light that scorched palms and pushed men back flows over him like warm water, gentle and harmless.
She kisses him once more, fierce and sure.
The clearing begins to tilt. The trees blur together. The firelight, bodies, and smoking ground stretch and dissolve, and they begin to rise together, then they suddenly disappear.
***
The trunk of the car has three corners and a loose bolt in the back left, which jabs at Kai's shoulder every time they hit a bump on the road. He's been counting each impact. It’s the only thing keeping him alert. His wrists are tied behind him, the
