Chapter 18: Ancient and Modern

Every step feels like moving through mud. My legs shake, muscles screaming from exhaustion and leftover adrenaline. The mark on my arm still pulses, but it's less like power and more like an open wound.

"We need to stop," Thalia says from somewhere behind me. Her voice sounds as ragged as I feel. "At least long enough to catch our breath."

I want to argue, but when I turn to face her, the world tilts sideways. Jay catches me before I hit the ground, though I can feel him trembling with his own exhaustion. Those magical chains did a number on him… his usual healing is working overtime just to close the worst of the wounds.

"She's right," he murmurs, and I hate how weak his voice sounds. "We've put enough distance between us and Kael's pack. Something was off about how they just... let us go."

That's been nagging at me too. Wolves don't give up a chase easily, especially not when their pride's been wounded. So why...?