Zina's POV
The woods felt endless. The twisted branches reached out like skeletal fingers, and the faint sound of crickets and distant owls filled the night air. Each step I took felt heavier, my grip on Asher tightening as I held him close. His small body trembled, his breaths uneven against my shoulder.
Xaden walked ahead of me, his movements calm, almost leisurely, as if this wasn't a kidnapping but a casual stroll. His men flanked us, their expressions unreadable in the dim moonlight. The crunch of leaves beneath our feet was the only sound, but it felt deafening in the silence of the night.
I couldn't stop the anxious thoughts swirling in my head. My heart ached for Asher, and every passing second felt like it was slipping away from me. I had to get us out of here. I had to protect him, no matter what.
Silence stretched between us until I couldn't take it anymore. The stillness felt too heavy, too thick, and I needed to break it. To make him hear me.
