The king may be hunting us even now," Seraphielle said without slowing her pace. Branches scraped against her robes as she forced a path through the dense forest, one hand locked around Aurelia's arm.
"But do not mistake pursuit for salvation." Her voice remained unnervingly composed, as though they were discussing the weather rather than fleeing through the heart of a cursed forest. "Valerian Stormborne will not reach you before I complete what I came here to do."
Aurelia bit back a sharp breath as slender fingers dug into the bruises already forming along her arm. The High Priestess showed no concern for the pain she caused. She simply kept walking, dragging her captive over uneven ground with relentless determination.
The forest seemed determined to aid her.
Thick roots jutted from the earth beneath their feet, forcing Aurelia to stumble more than once. Every time she lost her balance, Seraphielle yanked her upright with little regard for whether she was hurt.
