Avery’s POV
My heart shattered.
I tried to hold onto the pieces. I tried to tell myself that Asher was lying, that Gideon hadn’t been right here, in this very camp, last night. I tried to tell myself that it wasn’t true. Gideon wouldn’t have come for Deirdre. He wouldn’t have just… left me here.
Still, no matter how tightly I clenched my fists around those shards, a few slipped free.
Had Gideon left me here?
For Deirdre?
No. I refused to believe it. Asher was lying. He was trying to get in my head. Gideon hadn’t been here. I would have sensed him, wouldn’t I?
Wouldn’t I?
By the next morning, I felt marginally better. I’d managed to eat a little bit of food, and regained some of my strength. My resolve had hardened—I needed to get out of here. Quickly.
I dressed as soon as I could
