The forest was alive with sound—branches snapping underfoot, distant birdcalls abruptly silenced as if the woods themselves held their breath. Mist clung to the underbrush, shrouding the narrow trails in a silvery haze. Every step felt precarious, the uneven ground threatening to betray them with any misstep.

Taryn's lungs burned with every sharp inhale, her heart pounding a furious rhythm in her chest. There it was again, that faint pulse at the back of her mind—a tether she couldn't shake. Lucien's presence pressed against her awareness, not just beside her but within her, a constant thrum that mirrored her own heartbeat. Through the bond, she could feel the dull throb of Lucien's shoulder, each step amplifying the shared burden. It wasn't just her body she was fighting for anymore—it was his too.

The weight of her gear seemed heavier than usual, but she pushed forward, her focus razor-sharp. Beside her, Lucien matched her pace, though his movements lacked their usual fluidity. The bandage on his shoulder had already begun to darken, the makeshift wrap struggling to contain the bleeding. His injury was slowing him down, and they both knew it.

Behind them, the faint echoes of boots crunching against the forest floor sent a jolt of urgency through Taryn's veins. The bounty hunters were methodical, closing the distance with relentless precision.

"They're getting closer," Lucien said, his voice low and strained, barely audible over the thrum of the chase.

Taryn didn't slow, her eyes darting between the shadows of trees ahead. "Then we move faster," she replied, her tone clipped.

She could feel the weight of Lucien's gaze, even as they ran. "Taryn, you can't expect—"

"I can expect whatever it takes to keep us alive," she snapped, cutting him off. Her tone softened, just slightly. "We can't stop. Not yet."

Lucien's lips curved into a faint smirk, despite the tension lining his silver eyes.

A sharp crack echoed from somewhere behind them, closer this time. Taryn's jaw tightened as she quickened her pace, her mind working in overdrive. Every decision, every turn they took, could be the difference between survival and capture.

"Trust me," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.

Lucien let out a low, breathless laugh. "I always do, warrior."

They wove through the dense underbrush, their movements synchronized in a way that spoke of countless close calls. The mist thickened, obscuring the path ahead, but Taryn didn't hesitate. She could feel the terrain shifting beneath her boots, the incline steepening slightly. They were heading toward higher ground—dangerous, but potentially to their advantage.

Lucien's breathing grew heavier, a subtle hitch in his step betraying his injury. Taryn stole a glance at him, noting the strain etched across his face. "We're almost there," she said, more to herself than to him.

He didn't respond immediately, his focus locked on keeping pace. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost teasing. "If you're leading us into a dead end, it will be a very anticlimactic death."

Taryn huffed, her lips curving into a tight smile despite the situation. "Shut up and run."

The ridge provided cover, but the bounty hunters weren't far behind. Their voices, low and sharp, cut through the mist, accompanied by the occasional snap of a branch. Taryn motioned for Lucien to keep low as they moved, her dagger drawn and her senses on high alert.

"We've bought ourselves time," Lucien murmured, keeping his voice low.

"Not enough," Taryn replied, her tone clipped. Her eyes swept the forest for their next move.

A faint whistle broke the quiet—a sound that barely registered before the sharp thud of an arrow embedded itself in her side.

Taryn staggered, her breath catching as the searing pain spread. She instinctively pressed a hand to the wound, feeling the warmth of her blood seep through her fingers.

"Taryn!" Lucien was at her side in an instant, his gaze darting between her and the direction of the shot.

"I'm fine," she said through gritted teeth, her voice tight with pain.

Lucien's eyes narrowed, his usual teasing gone, replaced by cold focus. "You've been shot. That's not fine."

Another whistle, another arrow. This time Lucien grabbed her, pulling her down behind a cluster of rocks as the projectile narrowly missed its mark.

"Stay down," he growled, his tone brooking no argument.

The bounty hunter's voice seemed to come from everywhere at once, a low, menacing drawl that cut through the mist like a blade. "You're making this harder than it needs to be, Taryn."

Taryn hissed as she adjusted her position, her hand pressing harder against the wound. Blood seeped through her fingers, warm and sticky. Every breath was a battle, but she refused to let it slow her. Lucien's focus was entirely on slowing the bleeding. His hands worked swiftly, his expression a mask of controlled urgency.

A strange, foreign sensation surged through the bond—a mix of Lucien's panic and pain. His worry bled into her like a sharp edge, heightening her own. For a moment, she felt the world spin through his eyes, his fear for her briefly eclipsing the urgency of the chase.

"He's toying with us," she muttered, trying to refocus, her voice laced with frustration.

Lucien's silver eyes flicked to hers, sharp and determined. "Brace yourself, Warrior," he said, his tone low but commanding. Without waiting for her response, he gripped the arrow shaft firmly.

"What are you—" Taryn started, but her words were cut off as Lucien snapped most of the length off with a sharp crack. Pain flared through her, and she bit down on a curse, her breath hissing through her teeth.

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"This will keep it from snagging on anything while we move," Lucien said, his voice tight but calm. "We'll deal with the rest when we're somewhere safe."

Taryn's jaw clenched, but she gave a curt nod, her grip tightening over the wound. "Fine. Let's just make sure we get that far."

Lucien's hands returned to applying pressure, his focus unwavering. "We will," he said, his voice steadier now, a quiet resolve threading through his words. His silver eyes scanned the trees, sharp and calculating. "He's close."

"Closer than you think," The bounty hunter called, his tone almost conversational. "You can keep running, but we both know how this ends."

Taryn's teeth clenched, her eyes narrowing. "You talk too much," she shot back, her voice loud enough to echo through the trees.

His laugh was low and unsettling, a sound that sent a chill through the air. "And you're bleeding to death. How far do you think you'll get before you collapse?"

At the bounty hunters words, a sudden jolt of rage spiked through the bond—Lucien's fury, sharp and blinding, cutting through Taryn's own pain like a blade. She tightened her grip on her dagger, feeding off his strength even as her body faltered. His voice dropped to a quiet murmur, meant for her alone. "We need to move now. He's driving us into a trap."

Taryn nodded, forcing herself to her feet despite the sharp pain that flared with every breath. Her vision swam for a moment, but she steadied herself, drawing strength from the quiet resolve in Lucien's gaze.

"We'll spring it before he gets the chance," she said, her voice low but fierce.

Lucien gave a curt nod, his grip steadying her for a brief second longer before releasing. "Then let's make him regret this."

Taryn and Lucien moved in silence, their steps muffled by the damp forest floor. The ridge loomed above them, offering a potential advantage if they could reach it unnoticed. Every breath Taryn took was labored, the wound at her side a constant, pulsing reminder of their precarious situation.

Lucien's eyes flicked toward her, his brow furrowed with concern. "Can you keep going?" he whispered.

Taryn nodded sharply, her voice a low growl. "Don't slow down for me."

They climbed quickly, using the natural cover of boulders and outcroppings to shield their movements. The mist began to thin, revealing glimpses of the forest below. Taryn crouched behind a jagged rock, her gaze locking onto the dark figures weaving through the trees.

"There," she muttered.

Lucien knelt beside her, following her line of sight. The bounty hunter moved with deliberate ease, his bow ready, his steps confident. His flanking hunters moved in near-perfect formation, their eyes scanning every shadow.

"He's good," Lucien murmured, his tone carrying a grudging respect.

"Too good," Taryn replied, her hand tightening around the hilt of her dagger. "But he's overconfident."

Lucien smirked faintly. "Let's use that."

They waited, every second stretching thin as the hunters closed the distance. The bounty hunter suddenly stopped, his head tilting slightly, as if he could feel their eyes on him. His voice carried easily through the mist, calm and mocking.

"You can run, but you can't hide forever," he called out. "It's only a matter of time."

Lucien's eyes narrowed, his muscles tensing. "He's trying to draw us out."

Taryn's grip on her dagger tightened. "Let him try."

The bounty hunter took another step forward, his bow raised. "I'll make this simple. Come quietly, and I might consider letting her live."

Lucien's voice was steady, unyielding. "Not much of an offer."

A slow, humorless chuckle echoed back. "You'll learn soon enough that it's the best one you'll get."

Taryn glanced at Lucien, and a silent agreement passed between them. Without another word, she drew back her arm and released her dagger. It sliced through the air, aimed straight for the bounty hunter's chest.

At the last second, he twisted, the blade grazing his arm instead. His composure didn't break, but his eyes narrowed, the first sign of irritation flashing across his face.

Lucien surged forward, his blade catching the faint light as he descended upon the hunter. Their weapons clashed, the sound sharp and jarring in the misty quiet.

Taryn didn't hesitate, her second dagger already flying toward one of the flanking hunters. The fight erupted in a blur of motion, the quiet forest now alive with the sounds of battle.

The bounty hunter met Lucien's strikes with calculated precision, his movements fluid and efficient. "You're not bad," he said, his tone still maddeningly calm. "But you're outmatched."

Lucien's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond, his focus entirely on the fight.

Taryn fought her own battle, her movements sharp and controlled despite the blood loss. She knew they couldn't hold out forever, but they didn't need to. They just needed an opening.

Taryn's breath was shallow, her side screaming with every movement, but she forced herself to stay focused. She parried a strike from one of the flanking hunters, her dagger catching the blade with a sharp clang. A twist of her wrist sent his weapon spinning to the ground, and without hesitation, she drove her knee into his gut, sending him stumbling back.

Lucien fought with precision, his blade a blur as he pressed the bounty hunter. Their strikes came faster now, the clash of steel ringing out in the thinning mist. The bounty hunter moved like a predator, his eyes never leaving Lucien as he deflected each blow with unnerving ease.

"You've got skill," he said, his tone infuriatingly casual. He shifted his stance, his blade coming up in a smooth arc that Lucien barely dodged. "But you're predictable."

Lucien's smirk was razor-sharp. "Keep talking. It'll make it easier to knock that confidence out of you."

The bounty hunters grin widened. "By all means, try."

The fight continued, brutal and unrelenting. Taryn dispatched another attacker, her blade slicing cleanly through his defenses. But the effort left her vulnerable, and she barely had time to register the next hunter lunging at her before Lucien's voice cut through the chaos.

"Taryn, down!"

She dropped instinctively, and Lucien's blade flashed over her head, burying itself in the hunter's chest. The man crumpled with a strangled gasp, and Lucien pulled Taryn to her feet, his eyes scanning the field.

"We can't hold this position," he said, his voice tight.

Taryn nodded, her breathing labored. "We don't need to."

Lucien's gaze flicked to the bounty hunter, who stood still a few paces away, his composure unshaken despite the loss of his men. "He doesn't rattle easily."

Taryn smirked, blood staining her teeth. "Good. That makes it more satisfying when we break him."

The bounty hunter raised his blade, his expression one of calm amusement. "I have to admit, you two are more entertaining than most." He stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate. "But every game has to end."

Lucien squared his stance, his blade steady in his hand. "You're right. Let's finish this."

Without warning, Lucien surged forward, feinting a high strike before pivoting low. The bounty hunter blocked easily, but the maneuver forced him to shift his footing, giving Taryn the opening she needed. She threw her last dagger, aiming for his exposed side.

He twisted, catching the blade midair with a flick of his wrist. His grin widened. "Clever, but not clever enough."

Taryn's heart pounded as he advanced, but then she saw it—the faint shift in his posture, the way his weight leaned just slightly to the left. He didn't see Lucien coming.

With a roar, Lucien drove his shoulder into him, sending them both crashing to the ground. The impact knocked the bounty hunter's weapon from his hand, and Lucien pinned him with a knee to the chest, his blade pressed against his throat.

"Looks like you're outmatched after all," Lucien growled.

The bounty hunter's eyes narrowed, but his grin never faltered. "You've got spirit. I'll give you that." His hand shot up, grabbing Lucien's wrist. With a surge of strength, he twisted, breaking free and rolling to his feet.

Lucien swore, barely avoiding his retaliatory strike. The bounty hunter retrieved his weapon, his movements quick and fluid despite the close call.

"Taryn!" Lucien called, his voice urgent.

"I'm on it," she replied, already moving. She grabbed a fallen hunter's sword, the unfamiliar weight settling awkwardly in her grip.

The bounty hunter's attention snapped to her, his eyes gleaming. "Think you can take me?"

Taryn's smirk was pure defiance. "Let's find out."

His grin widened, his blade gleaming as he readied for the next exchange. But just as the tension reached its peak, the faint sound of distant voices cut through the mist. He stilled, tilting his head slightly, his sharp gaze flicking toward the source.

Reinforcements.

Lucien's grip on Taryn's arm tightened. His voice dropped to a tense murmur. "That's our cue."

Taryn hesitated for only a heartbeat before nodding. They turned and moved quickly, slipping back into the cover of the forest.

The bounty hunter made no move to stop them. Instead, he lowered his blade, his expression one of amused satisfaction. His laughter, low and rich, followed them into the trees.

"You've bought yourselves time," he called, his voice carrying an edge of dark amusement. "But I always finish what I start."

He sheathed his weapon with deliberate slowness, his smirk lingering as the approaching hunters broke through the mist. He glanced over his shoulder, the gleam of mischief still in his eyes.

"Let them run," he said to no one in particular, his tone almost lazy. "It's more fun that way."