Kael's legs were barely holding him up now. Every step was agony. His muscles screamed for rest, but there was no time.
He had to move.
He stumbled behind a moss-covered boulder, gasping. His body dropped with a dull thud, hidden just enough to buy a few seconds.
Blood smeared the rock as he leaned against it, trying to catch his breath.
His heart pounded.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
He didn't have much time.
With shaking hands, Kael reached inside his coat, a small pocket. One he had prepared in advance, just in case everything went wrong.
And everything had gone wrong.
"Come on… please…" he whispered through dry lips, fingers fumbling with the flap.
His hands were numb from fatigue and blood loss, but finally, he managed to rip it open.
Inside was a small glass vial. The liquid inside shimmered with a faint golden glow—the elixir Cecelia had given him before.
He clutched it tightly.
