CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

It hurts.

This constant gnawing sensation inside of my stomach aches. I’ve not eaten in days, not even a sip of water. My healing ability has all but vanished. I can’t even heal a small cut. I’ve become so used to having my injuries healed within minutes, depending on how bad they are, that the lack of healing makes me feel weaker and more vulnerable.

My fingers are all bloody from digging into the cave walls.

It’s hard to walk; I feel so weak.

Staring at the fire in front of me, which is roaring, I feel like I’ve been stripped of everything. The stronger it rages, the more I crumble.

But I can’t leave.

Jesse needs me. My friends went through hell just to have my back. They paid a painful price for their loyalty.

But I couldn’t protect them.

I need to be strong.

I need to be able to protect the people in my life.

I failed to protect my father, my sister.

It’s that determination that has me getting back up each time to fill the bowl, ignoring my battered fingers, the des