Which means they’re learning.
Closing in.
Behind us, one of the mothers sucks in a shaky breath. “They found us?”
“No,” I answer immediately.
Too fast.
Too firm.
But panic spreads like fire, and I can’t let it catch.
“They haven’t found us,” I repeat more quietly. “Not yet.”
I don’t know if I believe it.
The fear clawing up my throat certainly doesn’t.
A hand brushes lightly against mine.
I glance down.
Russ.
Not holding on.
Just touching enough to remind me he’s there.
Grounding.
Steady.
It works embarrassingly well.
Lucas studies the valley below. “Options.”
“We cut west,” Clay says quietly. “Stay high.”
Miles shakes his head. “Too exposed.”
“If we stay here, they’ll sweep straight toward us,” Clay argues.
“They’re tightening the search,” Lucas adds grimly.
Silence settles over the ridge.
Heavy.
Calculating.
Then Russ says quietly, “We split them.”
My head snaps toward him instantly.
Absolutely not.
“You’re kidding.”
