Thoren would be back by now. Nevara safe. Michelle likely dead. Sabrina? Who the hell knew.
And I was laid out in the forest with my leg in a trap.
I forced myself to think.
Trap. Brent. Movement.
My claws closed around the chain. Brent’s expression sharpened.
“What?” he asked. “You planning to strangle me from down there?”
“Thinking about it.”
“I’d wait until after you get that off. Otherwise you’ll bleed out before you get the satisfaction.”
I hated that he wasn’t wrong.
Slowly, I pushed myself upright enough to brace my back against a tree. The world tilted. I waited it out, breathing shallowly until it steadied.
Then I looked down.
The steel had bitten deep. Not enough to sever. Enough to ruin everything. I flexed my foot once and nearly blacked out.
Brent whistled low. “Ye
