Page 24 of Chains of Nightshade

I could drop her. Leave her for the dark elves while I make my escape. She's served her purpose - I'm free. What more do I need from this broken human?

Her head lolls against my shoulder, breath coming in shallow gasps. The scent of her blood fills my nostrils, mixed with the lingering traces of dark elf blood still spattered across her face. Such a strange contradiction - this fragile creature who killed without hesitation to free me.

"Stay awake," I growl, though I'm not sure why I care. My mind races through possibilities, calculating odds of survival. With her, my chances drop significantly. Without her...

She whimpers softly, fingers clutching weakly at my chest. "Just... leave me. You can... move faster..."

Something twists in my chest at her words. After everything, she's still trying to help me escape. Foolish human.

The sounds of pursuit grow louder. I could drop her. I should drop her. Every logical part of my mind screams at me to abandon this burden and save myself.

Instead, my arms tighten around her small form as I weave through the ancient trees, my tail leaving deep grooves in the earth.

I grit my teeth as another wave of dark elf voices echoes through the forest. My tail leaves deep grooves in the earth as I slither between ancient trees, Vera's blood marking our trail like breadcrumbs.

The logical choice is clear - drop her and save myself. She's dead weight now, slowing me down with every labored breath. I've gotten what I wanted. Freedom. Power. Revenge.

But every time I consider letting her fall, my mind floods with images of her lying in the dirt, bleeding out alone. Her pale face spattered with dark elf blood, evidence of what she was willing to do for me. The way she didn't hesitate to kill for our escape.

"Damn it," I hiss, adjusting my grip as she shivers against my chest. "Why do I care?"

Her fingers weakly clutch at my skin, leaving bloody prints that burn like brands. This foreign emotion churning in my gut - I can't control it, can't suppress it, can't reason it away. It's maddening.

The sound of pursuit grows louder – boots crunching through dead leaves, voices calling out commands. They're organizing a strategic search pattern. Smart bastards.

My tail whips out, shoving aside a fallen log. The movement draws a whimper from Vera, and something twists in my chest. Damn these foreign emotions. I should drop her. Every logical part of my mind screams at me to abandon this burden.

"Please," she mumbles, fingers weakly clutching at my chest. "You can move faster without?—"

"I said shut up." I curl my body around a massive tree trunk, using it as cover while I listen to the approaching footsteps. "I'm not leaving you here."

The words surprise me as much as they seem to surprise her. Her eyes flutter open, clouded with pain but questioning. I look away, unable to meet her gaze.

"Why?" Her voice is barely a whisper now.

I don't answer. I can't answer. Because I don't understand it myself. Instead, I tighten my grip and push forward, deeper into the shadows of the ancient forest. The dark elves' voices echo behind us, but I won't stop. Not now. Not when freedom is so close – and not when the thought of abandoning her feels like poison in my veins.

12

VERA

The flames dance before my eyes, casting flickering shadows across the cave walls. My side throbs where the arrow struck me, though Aurel cleaned and bandaged it hours ago. His touch had been clinical, detached – nothing like the warmth I felt in our shared dreams.

From the far side of the cave, Aurel watches from the shadows, his serpentine lower half is coiled tight. I pull my knees closer to my chest, trying to ward off the chill that seems to come more from his cold demeanor than the night air. Aurel sits at the far end of the cave,

"Are you hungry?" His voice breaks the silence, making me flinch.

"No." The dried meat he gave me earlier sits like lead in my stomach.

He nods once, then returns to his vigilant watch of the cave entrance. The silence stretches between us, heavy with unspoken words.

"In the dreams..." I start, but my voice falters when his shoulders tense. "You were different."

"Dreams are dreams." His words cut through the air like ice. "Reality is something else entirely."

My chest tightens as pieces start falling into place. The way he pushed me to free him, his sudden distance, how different he is from the gentle teacher in my dreams. "You used me."

He doesn't deny it. Doesn't even look at me.

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