*Arian's POV*
"Arian!"
I turned towards the call and saw Ari rushing out of the cave. What was she doing here? No, don't— She tackled me with a hug, breaking my stupor. It was her. She had moved me.
"Don't go, Arian! Please, you're already hurt," she pleaded. She pulled back and brushed her fingers over the faint red seeping through my shirt. "You're wound reopened." She stared at me with desperation. "We need to treat you. It's too dangerous. We'll think of another way." I shook my head rigidly. "Please. Let's wait. Please!"
Her cries quavered through my body. For a split second, I didn't want anything more than to protect her and stay with her. I didn't want to hunt down the Donegans, find my family, or save the cities. I just wanted to hold her, hid
