Serena's POV.

I stared at them, incredulous.

"You're joking, right?" I asked, but they shook their heads in unison.

"No, we can't sneak out of here," Richard said, his voice firm. "That would make us cowards."

I felt a surge of anger, my hands clenched into fists. I had never wanted to slap someone as much as I wanted to slap them right now. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

"Do you both want to know what cowardice is?" I spat, my voice low and venomous. "It's having the chance to escape, to fight for your people, and refusing to take it. That's cowardice!"

Richard's eyes...