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I could barely keep my eyes open as Roberto dragged me deeper into the forest, arrows whizzing past us. A few missed by inches; two grazed his arm as he shielded me. I begged him to leave me behind, to save himself, but he only growled in response.

The good news was, the arrow hadn’t pierced my heart—if it had, I wouldn’t still be breathing. The bad news? It had gone clean through me, coated in wolfsbane. The wound in my chest bled heavily, and I knew I was close to my limit. Gritting my teeth, I pushed through the pain, but I couldn’t make my legs move any faster.

“There’s a rocky hill with some caves ahead,” Roberto said, gripping my waist tighter. “We’ll hide there.”

I didn’t argue. I couldn’t have, even if I wanted to.

I focused on moving forward. The arrows stopped, but we didn’t dare assume we were out of danger. The wolfsbane dulled my senses, making it hard to tell if anyone was still behind us. At last, three caves came into view, and Roberto guided us toward the nearest one. But something in me tugged my gaze to the third cave, farther down.

“There,” I whispered, pointing. “We have to go there.”

Roberto glanced at me, confused. “Why?”

“There are… magical wards on the walls,” I mumbled, though I wasn’t sure how I knew.

He frowned. “I don’t see anything.”

I took a shaky breath. “Trust me.”

He hesitated, weighing whether my senses were skewed from blood loss. Then he cursed softly and led us toward the cave I’d pointed to. I was grateful he didn’t ask me to explain; I wouldn’t have known how. I just felt certain this was where we’d be safe.

Behind us, the thudding of approaching footsteps grew louder. “Damn,” Roberto muttered, glancing over his shoulder. “They’re coming—six of them.”

I clenched my teeth. Fighting was out of the question; I could barely stand without Roberto’s support. I could only hope my instincts hadn’t failed me.

At last, we reached the entrance of the third cave. As we neared, the symbols on the arch seemed to pulse with life.

Roberto paused, his eyes searching mine. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

“We’ll be… safe,” I managed, unsure how to explain the gut feeling.

He took a deep breath, then pushed us inside. Just a few steps in, the entrance sealed shut, and the strange crystals lining the walls lit up, casting a warm glow over the cave. Roberto stared at the sealed entrance, his mouth slightly open.

“What the hell?”

A faint smile tugged at my lips. “Safe,” I murmured, just as my legs gave out beneath me.

Roberto caught me, easing me down to the ground. “Hey!” He tapped my cheek. “Don’t drift off. We need to get that arrow out.”

I swallowed hard, nodding, though dread pooled in my stomach. We both knew it was a risk. Removing the arrow would unleash a torrent of blood, but it was the only chance for my body to begin healing. Taking slow, deep breaths, I braced myself as Roberto snapped off the arrow’s point. It shifted inside me, and a strangled cry escaped my lips. The pain was almost unbearable.

With the arrow’s head removed, Roberto gently eased me onto my back. He positioned himself beside me, a grim smile on his face. “This is going to hurt like hell,” he muttered, hands ready on the shaft.

“I’ve been to hell and back,” I gritted out. “Just… do it.”

With a steadying breath, he whispered, “I’m sorry,” and pulled the arrow free.

A hoarse scream tore from me, the pain flaring hot and sharp before quickly ebbing away, replaced by a calming warmth.

“Stay with me, Gianna! Keep your eyes open!”

I heard him, but I couldn’t hold on. His voice faded as I slipped into darkness.

\---

When I opened my eyes, I was still in the cave, wrapped in thick fur with a small fire crackling nearby. Looking around, I spotted Roberto, his head lowered as he leaned against the wall, fast asleep. Slowly, I sat up, realizing I felt no pain. Pulling back the fur, I lifted my tunic to find my chest… whole. Not a scar or mark remained.

My heart pounded. I knew my wolf spirit was strong, but this was beyond anything I’d thought possible.

Drawing a deep breath, I rose to my feet, my gaze fixed on the glowing crystals. An inexplicable urge made me step closer and press my hand to one of them. Energy surged into me, filling me with clarity. I knew, suddenly, that this cave had healed me. It must have been created by witches from my mother’s side—explaining why I’d felt drawn to it.

A soft groan signaled that Roberto was waking. He blinked up at me, then scrambled to his feet.

“How do you feel?”

I smiled, warmth spreading through me. “Surprisingly well. The wolfsbane is still lingering, but the wound is gone. Thank you… for everything.”

He exhaled, relief flashing across his face, and ran a hand through his hair. “This cave… Those crystals—they’re powerful, right?”

I nodded. “I think this place was meant for situations like ours.”

“When I pulled the arrow out, I watched your wound close right before my eyes. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said, gesturing to the fur. “I found some supplies further in—wood, a flint, fur. Whatever urged you to choose this cave, damn, it was the right call.”

I chuckled softly, glancing at the sealed entrance. “But we can’t stay here. We need to leave… soon.”

Roberto frowned. “Why? You still need rest. I thought you said we were safe here.”