Chapter 18

Ayana followed Zelrine through a dimly lit passage, closely shadowed by two of her best fighters. The flickering torches barely flung any light on the bare walls of stone. A carpet of dirt muffled their footsteps as they rushed along the tunnel, sending motes of dust flying into the air.

“This will take us out of the valley,” Zelrine said. “But we need to be careful. This tunnel is much older, and almost everyone in the base knows about it.”

“Hmm,” Ayana mumbled, the weight in her chest too heavy, too much to bear. Innumerable blades of hurt stabbed into her heart as Scarlett’s crying face flashed before her eyes.

How was she going to live without her little girl?

She had to find Lucien. She needed him. As long as he was fine, she had no regrets. He was certainly out there, looking for her. When she reunited with him, they would leave Aria for good.