The hidden valley was covered in rain and thick mist. Alina and Thomas reached it first, their horses stumbling from exhaustion. An old watchtower stood on a rocky hill overlooking the valley. Its walls were cracked, and upper floors were partially collapsed, but it was the only shelter in sight.

"Up there," Alina said.

She climbed down from her horse and helped Thomas dismount. His shoulder wound was bleeding again. It looked like he would collapse anytime.

They led the horses inside the lower level of the tower and blocked the broken door with fallen stones and a heavy beam. Then Alina climbed the narrow, damaged stairs to a high window. Thomas leaned against the wall below, struggling to catch his breath.

Suddenly, they heard a growl. Alina froze. A tracking dog burst from the treeline, followed by six of Crane’s men with their swords drawn.

"They found us," Alina whispered.

And the fight began. The dog charged immediately. Alina grabbed a stone and hurled it down the stairs. It hit the animal hard, sending it yelping back.

Two men rushed towards the staircase. Thomas shot an arrow and killed one of them. Alina waited until the second one reached the weakest section of the wall before slamming both hands against the crumbling stone. The wall collapsed instantly. Rocks and debris fell down on the men, burying him under the rubble.

Another man climbed in from the side. Alina fought him with her dagger. He was stronger, but she was determined and desperate. She used the ruins as weapons and stabbed him in the leg.

Thomas took down one more but got another cut on his ribs. Alina fought and killed the last two—one fell from a rotten beam while the other from the stairs.

Panting and bleeding from her calf, Alina dropped beside Thomas.

"We’re still alive," she said weakly.

"For now," Thomas tried to smile.

After a few minutes, she climbed back to the window. She lit a small oil-soaked rag, and waved it through the rain. The small flame flickered defiantly.

"Austin... please be close."

On the far side of the valley, Austin fought like a man with nothing left to lose. The guard leader died in a fierce sword fight, taking two

soldiers with him. Austin barely escaped, his wounds burning worse than ever. Then he saw her signal and his heart almost stopped.

The rain grew heavier as Austin reached the valley. And, finally, they saw each other.

"Austin!" Alina cried.

He spurred towards her, meeting her near a stream. He jumped off from his horse and pulled her into his arms, wrapping her tightly against his chest. Alina held him back just as fiercely, her fingers digging into cloak and face buried in his neck.

"You’re here," she almost choked. "I was...I was so scared."

"So was I," he rasped. "I kept riding only for you."

For those few minutes, the world seemed go disappear around them. The rain washed away some of the mud and blood from their bodies as they stood holding each other.

Then the trap closed. Hooves thundered from every direction. More than a dozen of Crane’s elite soldiers appeared in front of them.

Austin immediately pushed Alina behind him.

"Stay behind me!"

They fought side by side in the heavy downpour. Both of them were exhausted but fought as strongly as they could. But they had no chance. They were outnumbered.

Then a group of soldiers attacked Austin from the side. At the same time, the old wooden bridge over the raging stream already weakened by the storm and the weight of fighting men and horses, cracked loudly and broke.

Austin who was on the middle of the bridge fell into the raging water.

"ALINA!" he shouted as broken beams and debris crashed into the river around him.

Alina who was at the edge, without wasting a single second, jumped after him. The cold water knocked the breath from her lungs. The current constantly pulled her under. But she kept fighting for her way to the surface, gasping and coughing.

"Austin!" she yelled, swallowing water.

His eyes widened in shock and relief when he saw her.

"Alina! No!"

She reached him and locked her hands with his.

"Why did you jump?" he gasped.

"I’d rather die with you than live without you," she shouted, gripping his hand tighter as the river tossed them like leaves. "Everything I’ve done was to be with you. I won’t leave you. Not now. Not ever."

They clung to each other, battered by the river and pieces of the broken bridge. Both of them were bleeding, but they refused to let go of each other. Suddenly a large piece of timber came hurtling towards them. Austin twisted and used his arm to shield her, taking the hit himself. Pain exploded through his body.

"I’ve got you," he growled. "Just hold on." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

They crashed against rocks, went under many times but their hands stayed locked. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the current slowed.

They dragged themselves onto the muddy bank, exhausted and shivering. Austin pulled Alina onto the ground then collapsed beside her. They lay there for a long time, their chests heaving.

"You’re insane," Austin whispered as he turned to look at her. A faint, tired smile touched his lips. "Jumping into that river..."

Alina reached out and touched his face with trembling fingers.

"I’d do it again. A thousand times."

Austin stared at her for a moment then laughed despite everything. Their clothes were soaked, their bodies were bleeding, and were exhausted. Yet, somehow, they felt stronger than before.

"So what now?" Alina asked.

Austin looked up at the endless sky.

"Now?" A small smile appeared on his face. "Now we end this mess. And after that..."

"After that?"

"After that...nobody gets to separate us again," he said, intertwining their fingers.

"Sounds like a good plan," Alina smiled.

He leaned in and kissed her forehead softly.

"Then... let’s make it happen," he whispered.