The warriors’ SUV rumbled along the rugged border road, tires crunching over gravel and ice. Garrick drove, his grip tight on the wheel, while Ronan rode shotgun, silver dagger across his lap. The air inside was thick with tension, the scent of oiled metal and sweat mingling with the faint, coppery tang from Cassian in the back. The boy sat chained, wrists and ankles bound in enchanted silver that hummed softly, his crimson eyes downcast. Garrick glanced in the rearview mirror. “Kid’s too quiet. Think he’s dying of thirst?”
Ronan, eyes on the treeline where shadows lengthened like claws. “Jackson said not to feed him, we are very close to our destination anyway, I am sure he will have enough time to hunt animal blood.”
They debated their return as the journey went on—would they make it t
