Chapter 20

Rayne POV

The forest blurred around us as Mateo dragged me forward into the little space we saw. My heart pounded, not from the sprint but from the screams still echoing in my ears.

"Let me go, Matteo!" I yanked my arm free, spinning to face him. "We have to go back for Kael!"

Mateo's eyes were sharp, a mix of fury and determination all over his expression.

"And do what exactly, Rayne? Get yourself killed by him? That thing wasn't just a mere man, it was something far worse than an ordinary man."

"I don't care about what you think it was! Kael is still back there!"

"And he told you to run for your own life," Mateo snapped, his voice hard and commanding. "If you go back now, you're only making his sacrifice meaningless and also dragging death to yourself."

His words hit me like a slap. My breath hitched, and I clenched my fists tight.