Lyra’s POV

“Shh, babies, don’t cry,” I murmured softly, my voice trembling with exhaustion. But their cries only grew louder, their tiny voices cutting through the stillness of the woods. I tightened my hold on the two babies in my arms, my arms aching from their weight. The third baby was tied securely to my back with a makeshift sling made from the blanket I had grabbed before fleeing.

My body was screaming for rest. My feet felt like they were dragging through sand, each step more painful than the last. The sharp ache in my lower back and the burning sensation in my legs made it nearly impossible to...