Chapter 183

Rather than felt, I heard the screech of metal twisting and tearing, followed by a loud splash. Before I could swipe away the moisture that coated my face, the entire world went dark.

“Damn it, Lola...” A voice snarled, practically shouting in my ear. “ ...one minute before I throw your ass over my shoulder and—”

All at once the memories collided in my head, exploding in a symphony of screeching tires, torn metal, and rushing water. The soundtrack was backed by Tristan’s voice, which was growing angrier by the second. When I was able to pry my eyes open, my surroundings quickly sharpened and the forest we were in came into view. While I was more than thankful there wasn’t any light to blind me, there was a gnawing sort of pain covering most of my body.

‘Goddess, I hate cars.’ Maya groaned, ‘We’re running everywhere from now on.’

“You need to get the hell up before the witches catch up.” Tristan hissed quietly, wedging his hands underneath my arms.

As he lifted me to my feet, the pain that wrapped itself around every bone and muscle in my body began to throb, pulsating to the same beat as my heart. I must’ve let out groan of some sort because Tristan muttered an apology and began looking me over. I swayed on my feet as he lifted my t-shirt, trying and failing miserably to swat his hands away.

“I’m fine!” I insisted, “I just need a damn minute.”

“We don’t have a minute.” He retorted, jostling me hard enough to snare my attention.

It was then I looked at him, noticing the blood that trickled from a gash on his forehead. His hair was matted and disheveled, the blond strands tinted copper with blood. I trailed my eyes downwards and frowned. His clothes were wet. Soaked to the bone, actually.

I spun around fast enough to make my vision blur, the tree’s doubling and tripling before my eyes. It didn’t stop me from seeing the river we’d crashed into, or the minivan wedged directly in its center. The windows were blown out and the airbags deployed, blocking me from seeing into the driver’s side.

“Tristan, where is Dina?” I asked quietly, not tearing my eyes away from the van. “Don’t tell me you left her in there.”

said

there!” I snarled, whirling

at one another. Tristan’s face was grim, his eyes haunted yet filled with a determined light. He was waiting for me to break, to realize that time was ticking away and that sooner or later the witches would find us. Panic swelled in my chest, but

contorted into a look of outrage. His eyes flared so brightly that for a moment, I thought he might throttle me. Instead, he ran a hand over his face, smearing some of the blood down his cheek, and raced to the minivan. I took a few uneasy

to speed my healing and to chase away this exhaustion that was looming over me like a

without falling over, I hurried to Tristan’s side. He had hoisted Dina from the driver’s seat, slinging her over his shoulder. The slight limp in his left

murmured, wincing as Tristan lowered her to the ground. “Can’t

can’t...” Tristan said briskly,

had torn through Dina’s flesh. “We need to set her leg so

Dina said quietly, her tone eerily peaceful and face turned towards the skyline. “I won’t be

snapped, grinding my teeth together

shift.” Tristan said firmly. “You

but stung my eyes and constricted around my throat. The world around me was trembling. Every branch and every leaf shook, yet no one else

could see the impatience growing on Tristan’s face and anticipated his explosion half a second before

Lola. Get out of here and live.

was something about the raw edge to his rage that sapped my own. I was still exhausted, but

took a deep breath, and when I spoke, my

another. It doesn’t matter what I am, my life is not worth more than hers or

and unclenched his fists.

made my decision, Tristan. Respect it and help me set her leg so we can get the hell out of

heard myself take on the confidence and fearlessness of a Luna a time or two, but this was something more. The shadows lingering in the forest

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