Nivia's POVBy the time evening came, the tension in our camp was thick enough to cut with a knife.Claire had spent most of the afternoon with Justin. He'd helped her clean her wounds, given her food, found her clean clothes from the small stash we'd salvaged from our first days here.And through it all, she'd clung to him like he was the only solid thing in her world.Maybe he was.I tried not to watch them. Tried to focus on preparing dinner, on organizing our supplies, on anything other than the way Claire's hand rested on Justin's arm. The way she leaned into him when she talked. The way he looked at her with concern and gentleness.But I couldn't help it.Every time I looked up, they were together. Talking quietly. Her crying. Him comforting her.And it burned."You're going to overcook those," Mateo said.I jumped, nearly dropping the fish I'd been roasting over the fire. I'd forgotten I was even holding it.Mateo stood a few feet away, his expression unreadable. It was the fir
Last Updated : 2026-02-28
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