Ava’s POV
Pain was all I could feel.
It burned across my chest in a steady and merciless rhythm with every shallow breath I took. I could feel it clawing into my ribs, spreading like fire and every steps Kane took sent fresh waves of agony through me.
I wanted to scream but no sound came. Just a rasp, thin and broken, slipping past my lips.
“Kane…”
The name barely left me but somehow, he heard.
“Hush, Ava. I’ve got you.” His voice cracked, rougher than I’d ever heard it. His arms tightened around me, holding me against his chest as he ran. “Stay with me, don’t you close your eyes.”
But my eyelids were so heavy, the edges of the world blurred, shadows pressing in, tempting me to just… let go.
Somewhere beyond the haze, I heard Zack’s voice. It was loud and commanding through the cha
