Samantha’s POV
Alex's hand weight in mine was the only thing keeping me grounded in the here-now. His touch was firm, friendly—reminding me that I was not alone even if the surroundings were colder. Still not yet.
But my brain was a tempest of ideas I was unable to flee from. Marcus's choice to stand with Elara, the treachery, the limited escape—all too much. Too rapid. We seemed to be barely hanging on by a thread, and I had no idea how much more time that thread would hold.
I clutched Alex's hand and forced myself to talk through the constriction in my throat. "What are we supposed to do now?
His eyes seemed far-off, as though he had initially not heard me. Then he turned, his face pulled and exhausted. "We must migrate."
The remarks came out as mechanical, pragmatic. He could not h
