The fading light of dusk painted the horizon in hues of deep crimson and gold, but I barely noticed. I slumped against the rough bark of a twisted tree, my breath ragged and shallow, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me like a heavy cloak. Blood seeped slowly from the gash on my shoulder, staining the torn fabric of my tunic. Beside me, Elara lay still, her pale face marred by grime and fatigue. Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, but she was far from being the same person who had entered that fight by my side.
We had escaped, but at what cost?
I tilted my head back, trying to slow my racing heart. The fight with Augustus had drained us both, leaving us battered and vulnerable. Every muscle in my body ached, and the sharp sting of my wounds reminded me how close I had com
