Alina's POV
"Lucian!"
My voice tore through the quiet of the woods, raw and cracking. I stumbled over a fallen branch, my vision blurred by tears, but I kept running, kept screaming his name into the empty trees.
Sammy caught me by the arm, pulling me to a halt. "Alina, stop. We need to go back. This place isn't safe for you."
"I am not leaving!" I yanked my arm out of his grip, my chest heaving. "Not until Lucian comes back."
"We will find him," Sammy said, keeping his voice steady, though his eyes darted to the dark treeline. "The rogues are searching endlessly. He will be found, okay? Don't worry."
His words buzzed in my ears, completely meaningless. I didn't want reassurances. I wanted Lucian.
Footsteps crunched on the dry leaves. Ragnar emerged from the shadows, his expression grim. He looked at Sammy, then at me, and shook his head. "We can't find him."
Blood rushed to my ears. I clenched my fists, marched straight up to Ragnar, and threw a punch directly into his face.
