Amelia reached out to check on Ryan, but before she could even touch him, he caught her wrist.
“I’m fine.”
She’d always thought her hands were cold, but the chill from his palm was something else entirely. It seeped into her bones, making her freeze on the spot.
There was no way he was fine.
She frowned. “Ryan!”
He let go of her.
“It’s probably midnight by now. The temperature is about to drop even more, and we’re in the middle of nowhere. Wild animals are bound to show up.” The moonlight was thin as mist, painting his face a ghostly white. His eyes were darker than ever, but he watched her with a calm, gentle focus that almost broke her heart.
“My legs were in the water too long. I can’t feel them, can’t move. Listen, Amelia, you can’t carry me out of here. There’s probably a cave nearby—find somewhere safe to hide, start a fire if you can. Francisco and the others are definitely looking for us. They’ll find us by morning. You just have to get through tonight.”
Amelia knew he was right.
But she didn’t buy for a second that his legs were only numb from the cold.
Ryan was tougher than anyone she knew. If he could move at all, he’d never let her go alone.
She pressed her lips together, worry flickering in her eyes as she glanced down at his legs. His black dress pants hid everything. Whatever injuries he had, they were hidden from view.
There was no point arguing. She didn’t have any medicine or first aid supplies—there was nothing she could do for him right now.
She forced herself to act.
“All right.” Amelia stood up. “Wait here for me. I’ll come back as soon as I can, no matter what.”
She started to leave but stopped after a few steps. Turning back, she looked at him—so slender and fragile in the moonlight, but her eyes were steady and full of resolve.
“Ryan, it’s not just me getting through tonight,” she corrected softly. “It’s us. We’re going to make it together.”
Ryan held her gaze. For a brief moment, something flickered in his dark eyes. He managed a soft, crooked smile. “Yeah. Together.”
As soon as Amelia disappeared into the trees, Ryan hit his limit. The taste of blood flooded his mouth. He turned away and coughed, spitting it out onto the ground.
His right leg was throbbing with blinding pain.



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