(Present Timeline)
The road stretched endlessly ahead, dusk bleeding into night as the car hummed down the old highway. The world outside blurred past — trees, fences, forgotten fields — but McKenna barely saw any of it.
Her forehead rested against the window, the cool glass a fragile comfort. It had been days since the chaos in Shawnee’s woods — days since she nearly died.
That night, Azeo had saved her. Against his better judgment. Against his anger. Against everything he stood for.
That was then.
This is now.
The silence in the car felt heavier than it should have. Between her and Azeo hung the unspoken — the memory of what happened, the words neither of them were ready to say aloud.
Azeo’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. His expression hadn’t changed since they left — unr
