We ran.
The old river tunnel swallowed us whole.
Cold water splashed up to our ankles with every step. The walls dripped. The air smelled like stone and old leaves.
Behind us, muffled and far away, we could still hear them. Council guards. Boots on wood. Orders being shouted at Ashford.
Ahead, only dark and the sound of five people breathing hard.
“Faster,” Kael said. He didn’t look back. “We have to make it before nightfall.”
Rosa ran on my left. She hadn’t spoken much since the caves. She didn’t need to. Her pace said everything.
The staff was warm in my hand. It cast a soft silver light on the wet floor, just enough for us to see the roots and rocks.
They’re close, the white wolf said inside my head. Not behind us. Ahead of us in time. Hurry.
“How much farther?” Jace asked be
