heroines stood with wind in their hair while thinking poetic thoug

, the water foaming and smashing against rocks like it was angr

r, branch

cker wa

cl

Her legs trembled in that weak, panicked way she hated. Win

owan ha

re? Into

ound her like a prison. She could not outrun the tracker. She could not f

ind r

, Vic

oots crunching on the dirt. His face

ng hard. "Your father will be ple

voice to stay stea

y flavored nonsense. But it

toward her, sword raised. "D

not my style

d, desperate for anyt

se br

nk at h

ri

ri

f correctly, she might survive long enough to reach the bank. That was a hug

as not sen

k a ste

ould not dare. You would di

he said. "

omething she h

her trun

. The trunk smashed into his chest, knocking him back

t wait to see i

e

hear

eartb

en she

t of her throat before she could stop it. The fall stole her br

e river

o

ol

her down, spinning her like a rag doll. Her arms flailed, fighting

rd as she could,

nce before a wave smacked her face and dragged her un

ed upwar

ers brus

ied on

past along the riverbank. She tried to swim but the current was too stron

cto

from the top of the c

ve blocked her view. She swallowed wat

. She saw rocks ahead and fear sho

o

She hit a smooth rock with her hip and cried out underwater,

d herself

icking toward a fallen tree near the bank. Her fingers reached a branch. Her gr

nging to the wood like it was life itself. Inc

attached. Her head spun. Her lungs

he ma

collapsed on her side, and lay there gulping air li

blu

orld

s crashed thr

though she probably could not lift it pro

ck," she

knelt be

onto her back. She blinked ha

wa

ak

hing

r her, his eyes scanning her face with a mixture

low voice. "I told you to m

again, wincing.

early

I did

have broken

I did

ghtened. "

nly. "Would you rather I

hed, tension leaving his shoulders.

er in years. Certainly not with such raw honesty. It settled

he touch was gentle, surprisingly so for

ed. "Did yo

us for a while. One is unconscious. The o

odded fain

ed her. "Ca

elf up and winced shar

ain. "I will

im. "No need. G

ot walk l

, I am

arly dr

d I am

are

ell me wh

second before Rowan finally leaned

ut a startled

," he said. "We c

o chatter. She tucked her face against his shoulder, partly to hide her exhaustio

forest, she whispered, "Why

ttle. "Because your uncle asked me to.

from what?"

ot answer i

ething that made

ur father has kept

n his shirt tight

met he

not the only o

to speak, but a rus

n st

fted her he

oved behin

a tr

an a

one

shed her behind him, his entire body sh

shes p

steppe

ed in

ing

arrow directly

's breat

ered, "Stay

ulled the st

have brought her