Rayne's arms ached. Her legs trembled with each step as she pushed through the forest path, Jace’s unconscious weight slung across her shoulders. She had no idea how long she’d been carrying him—minutes? Hours? It all blurred together in a haze of adrenaline and desperation.
His blood had stained the front of her shirt. Warm and sticky, seeping through the fabric like guilt itself.
“Hang on, Jace,” she murmured through gritted teeth. “We’re almost there. Just a little more.”
The edge of the trees gave way to the southern path behind the training hall, and up ahead—blessedly—the spires of the academy came into view. Students moved in clusters across the courtyard, heads turning toward her as the sight of a bloodied Alpha on another’s back shattered the peaceful morning lull.
Gasps erupt
