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“I need a break, Adriel! I’m not as fast as you.”

They were hardly making headway. “No breaks . If we don’t keep moving, he’ll catch us.”

The witch caught her arm the moment she pivoted. “You aren’t listening. Ican’t.I’m not like you. My body hurts, and I’m hungry. I can’t keepholding the protection spell and running like this.”

Without the spell, Cerberus would track them. It was an infuriating limitation but the only thing allowing Adriel to escape at the moment. She was also in need of rest, so her thoughts were not as guarded as they should have been, but the protection spell made up for what she currently lacked.

Perhaps it would be wise for both of them to find a place to rest if their strength was mutually waning. With wide eyes, she scanned the woods. She didn’t dare open her senses for fear of her mate slipping inside of her head, especially if Juniper’s spell was weakening.

Despite her exhaustion, it still felt too dangerous to stop. “I could carry you. Could you do the spell then?”

Juniper looked up at her—slack-jawed with a fist wedged into her ribs. “We need a better plan.”

“The plan is to keep moving.” They needed to run and keep running. “If you can’t keep up, then I need to leave you here.”

“We’re in the middle of nowhere!”

“I told you I would be running all night. I warned you.”

“If this is the extent of your plan, you’re going to be running for more than a night. Where are we even going?”

“North.”

“Northwhere? Do you even have a destination in mind? What happens when we cross a stateline and then another? Eventually, we’ll end up in Canada. How do you expect to get past border patrol?”

“I can use compulsion if necessary, and there are Amish sects over the border.”

Juniper scowled at her, the pale moonlight catching her features. “They aren’tyourkind of Amish. We can’t go to another order. It would put them in danger. Besides, I don’t trust the fucking Amish any more than I trust vampires.”

“Immortals.”

“Whatever.” She pushed her tangled hair behind her ears and rose to her full height. Beneath the thin material of her chemise, she was little more than skin and bone. “You’re not like the Amish in Canada. And you have some insane psychopath chasing you. You’ll lead him right to them, Adriel. Is that what you want? They’re unarmed, mortal, and helpless pacifists.”

Juniper’s devotion to protecting the innocent surprised her. She’d assumed the witch would be more self-serving. But she was right. If they stopped at another sect, it would only lure Cerberus and put innocent souls in danger. Her mate would slaughter anyone who stood in the way of what he wanted, including Juniper.

Though their alliance was short-lived, Adriel was startled by such a realization. She did not want the young woman risking her life.

“This is wrong.”

“What are you talking about? We don’t evenhave a destination, so going the wrong way is impossible.”

“That’s not what I meant.” As much as Adriel appreciated the spell and the witch’s help, doubt and guilt resurfaced. This mission was a death sentence. “You shouldn’t come with me. It’s dangerous?—”

“Really? This again?” Juniper flung out her arms. “We’ve been through this. You’re not ditching me in the middle of nowhere. You need me. And before you argue that you don’t, let me point out a few things.”

“I’m only trying to protect you, Juniper. You’re young?—”

“What does age matter? You’re no bigger than me?—”

“It’s different. I’m immortal.”

“So is the ex you’re running from.” She glanced back at the dark woods. “You said yourself that he’ll hurt you if he finds you.”

“He’ll hurt me, but he’ll kill you. Death is a mercy he’d never allow me to have.”

“He doesn’t own you, so he can’t allow shit, Adriel.”

“That’s not how matings work. Once he finds me, he’ll take control of everything. He’ll make me suffer and think nothing of killing you.”