CHAPTER 36

(SHEILA'S POV)

As I stayed in a cave, a new temporary shelter for Orion and me, I couldn't ignore the stinging reminders of our recent encounter with Emberlyn and her mercenaries. Orion seemed relatively unscathed, with only minor bruises from his skirmish, but my body bore the cruel lash marks inflicted by the vile slave dealer we had escaped from. The throbbing ache on my ankle served as a constant reminder of our harrowing escape.

The night before, Orion and I had fled atop a stolen horse, desperate to escape the clutches of Emberlyn and her mercenaries. But the adrenaline-fueled escape took its toll on my already injured ankle, and it soon became clear that we couldn't continue riding for long. With no other choice, we left the exhausted animal behind as a decoy in the dense woods, hoping to buy ourselves some time.

As the sky fell into a deeper night, we found ourselves weary and desperate, seeking refuge from the biting cold and the ever-looming threat of pursuit. With me cling