_Dorian's POV_
The forest was silent except for the sound of our hurried footsteps. Each breath I took felt heavy in my chest, the weight of Lyla in my arms reminding me of what was at stake.
The seer was lagging behind. I could hear her labored breathing, the way her footsteps dragged just a little more with each step. She was old, and though she was strong in her own way, she didn’t have the stamina for this.
“We need to stop,” she panted. “Just for a moment.”
I slowed, glancing down at Lyla. She was conscious now but weak. Her skin was slick with sweat, and her breaths came in short, shallow gasps. The color still hadn’t fully returned to her face.
I didn’t want to stop. Every instinct screamed at me to keep moving. Aaron wasn’t far behind—he would come, and when he did, he would b
