I couldn't believe my eyes. Jaxon looked so battered and tired, so hurt and conflicted. I bent to his side, carrying him and helping him sit on a fallen log to rest.

"Jaxon, what happened?" I asked. I was obviously concerned and confused as I assessed his wounds.

He winced, the pain evident in his eyes. "I... I couldn't go through with it, Lily," he whispered.

"Go through with what?"

"He wanted me to…I couldn't kill…I couldn't…" He coughed out violently and I didn't know what to do.

It had been so long since I saw Jaxon and to see him in that state, after so long, this was very...