The Death Kingdom

Chapter Twenty-Four

My lungs burn with exertion, my breath coming out in deep pants as I continue to run through the woods, Kavi and Auden a couple steps behind me.

I keep checking over my shoulder to see how Auden is holding up but the darkness keeps me from seeing the look on his face.

We've been running nonstop for an hour and I have no idea how Auden is able to stay on his feet. I can hear Kavi's deep rasping breaths behind me and know he's utterly exhausted. We all are after the events of the night.

At least Auden was able to get in a few hours of sleep before Kavi woke him up. I'm starting to feel the effects of staying up all night. My body is getting sluggish, and my senses weakening. Complete exhaustion wants to take over and I'd give anything to lay down on a nice patch of grass and sleep for the next week.

None of us have said a word the entire time we've been running. I guess they trust me to lead them in the right direction back to the rebellion but if I'm being honest I only have a general direction. It'll take us about two or three days to reach the rebellion on foot.

We're currently running through the woods on the outside of the kingdom since we have to go around the city.

The king must have sent out dozens of Guardians into these woods and the city to find us. It'll be a miracle if we make it all the way there. No doubt the Guardians will be riding on horses. They'll catch up to us quickly so we're somehow going to have to stay alert.

Given the fact we're about five minutes away from collapsing, I don't have a lot of hope.

"Saige," Kavi says from behind me. The sound of his voice after hearing nothing but our footsteps for so long has me jumping.

I turn around and see Kavi standing over Auden who's kneeling on the ground. I walk up to them and see Auden gritting his teeth.

"Just give me a moment," he mutters, his voice horse. His head slumps forward and he stares down at the ground in front of him. His jaw clenches and the veins in his neck bulge.

I kneel beside him and use my hand to cup the side of his face. I pull his face to mine, forcing him to look at me. I study his features, his blood dried and cracking all over his face. I look into his green eyes and a knot forms in my stomach at the pain I see reflected in them. Auden is done for the night. He needs to rest.

I glance over at Kavi who's biting his lip as he stares at his brother. "Do you think we put enough space between us and the castle?" he asks me.

"No," I tell him honestly, hating the answer. We shouldn't stop here, it's nothing but trees and brushes. There isn't a good place for shelter and we're exposed. A million thoughts run through my mind at once. I don't know what to do. Auden needs to rest but we can't stop here. We shouldn't.

Auden stares into my face and realizes a deep breath through his nose. "Leave me here and go on—"

"No!" Kavi snaps. He runs a frustrated hand through his hair. "I didn't risk our lives to find you for us to just leave you now."

I place a hand over my mouth and think, but I come up with nothing. Fucking nothing.

"I guess we stop here for the night and hope we don't wake up with Guardians slashing our throats." I shrug at the two of them and grab the food pack from behind my shoulder. I dig through it and grab some bread and cheese for us all to share.

"That was smart thinking," Auden whispers to me as he accepts his portion of the food.

"Is that a compliment from you?" I ask, arching an eyebrow. "Never thought I'd see the day." I can see the corner of Auden's mouth twitch even in the darkness. I bring the bread to my mouth and take a bite, savoring the fresh taste. The bread must only be a day old.