CHAPTER 96

  Lucien:

  I smelt the stench of blood before I saw it.

  I had been running for two days nonstop, and at this point, I was starting to lose hope. A dark, glittering blanket covered the sky and sent a flurry of shivers up my spine. A fading glow rippled on the puddles around me as if caging me in the canopy. Conner bounded next to me, panting and pawing at his nose. His eyelids were drooping, hanging limply.

  How much farther, Lucien? He linked.

  I growled. I don't know. I admitted. I bent down, searching for iron and vanilla. I can't smell much anymore.

  Neither can I, Valentin said. The scent is fading.

  It is. Either we're lost, or we're getting closer, Alexander rumbled.

  Let's hope for closer. I'd rather all this tracking not go in vain. I turned around abruptly. My pack stopped almost immediately, if not for the few that stumbled to a halt.