Page 65 of Asher
Gael’s gaze snapped to mine, looking torn. He looked back at Declan, his eyes filled with indecision.
Kill him, and one threat was gone. But it would cost us precious time.
Time I didn’t have, because the rest of Declan’s team was probably nearby.
Maybe the old Gael could have just killed Declan, left me because I was dead weight, but he was no longer the old Gael.
His eyes met mine again, something breaking in his expression. He turned away from Declan. He chose me.
“Come on,” Gael said, his voice rough.
He grabbed my arm, hauling me up. My leg threatened to give out, but I forced myself to move. Behind us, I heard Declan groaning. He wouldn’t stay down for long.
We plunged into the forest again, branches whipping past, the air sharp with the scent of sweat, blood, and pine.
Gael’s grip on my arm was iron, anchoring me to him as we ran.
We didn’t stop, not until the sounds of pursuit faded behind us, swallowed by the trees.
Finally, Gael pulled me to a halt. I doubled over, gasping for breath. My lungs burned, every muscle screaming in protest.
He looked at me, his eyes dark with worry and something else. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure if it was true. “Yeah. You?”
He let out a sigh, his gaze never leaving mine. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
The raw honesty in his voice stunned me. My chest tightened, emotions crashing into me all at once.
He could’ve chosen to end Declan. He could’ve chosen revenge. But he chose me.
“Why did you—” My voice cracked. “Why did you do that?”
His eyes softened. He reached up, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from my forehead.
“Because you matter more,” Gael said.
I swallowed hard. The idea that I could leave before things got too complicated, felt like it was crumbling to dust.
GAEL
The rain started as a whisper, a soft pattering against the leaves overhead, barely noticeable as we moved through the dense underbrush.
But the whisper grew louder, building to a relentless drumming that soaked through my clothes and plastered my hair to my forehead.
Mud sucked at our boots, making every step harder.
Asher limped beside me, his jaw clenched tight, refusing to show weakness. His determination, even when he was clearly in pain, made my chest ache.
I wanted to tell him to stop, to rest, but I knew he wouldn’t listen. Not with hunters on our trail.
The wind picked up, whipping the rain sideways. The cold seeped into my bones, a dull ache spreading through me.
I cast a glance at Asher, who was pale and shivering, though he’d never admit it.
His eyes darted around, sharp and wary, but there was exhaustion in every line of his body.
“We need to get out of this storm,” I muttered, barely audible over the roar of the wind.
