EMILIA’S POV

The instant his words cut through the storm, my body rebelled. I turned on my heel and bolted, the mud sucking at my feet, the rain pelting so hard I could hardly see. My muscles screamed in protest, exhaustion clawing at me, but I didn’t care. I had one chance, one sliver of defiance left in me—and I wasn’t going to waste it.

If I could just make it deeper into the trees. If I could just—

My thought shattered with a sharp gasp as a powerful hand clamped around my waist and yanked me back. My legs kicked, my nails clawed at empty air, but I might...