Chapter 42:

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Not only did Allison recognize the eerie sense of familiarity, but Kellan also felt an unsettling vibe.

As they dealt with the assassin with precision, they couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss between them.

The assassin, cornered against the cliff’s edge, hissed in frustration. “Damn it!”

In his critically injured state, he made a desperate lunge toward Allison. Already precariously positioned on the slope’s edge, Allison lost her balance and teetered dangerously.

In an instant, Kellan leaped forward and seized her wrist. “I’ve got you!”

Yet, in the dark chaos, both of them plummeted down the slope.

Allison felt Kellan’s firm embrace around her waist, his arm protecting her head as they tumbled together. Their descent slowed when they crashed into a tree, and they hit the ground with a jarring impact. Allison realized, through the disorienting tumble, that Kellan had used his body as a shield to protect her.

As they came to a stop, Allison checked herself for injuries. Minor cuts marred her arm, but Kellan was far worse. His forearms and legs were slashed, and the fall had left his right leg and arm fractured, along with numerous abrasions.

In intense pain but conscious, Kellan slowly opened his eyes and uttered, “Help me. My right arm is dislocated.”

Allison moved swiftly, adjusting his arm back into its socket with practiced efficiency.

Sweat glistened on Kellan’s forehead as he watched Allison’s every move. Not only did she realign his dislocated shoulder, but she also set her own fractured fingers with a wince of pain. She was tough and undeniably captivating, handling her own injuries with seasoned expertise.

“Lean against this tree for now,” Allison instructed calmly, removing her jacket to tear it into makeshift bandages. She fashioned the sleeves into a cushion for his head and wrapped a cloth around his arm to staunch the bleeding. After a quick survey, she assessed their surroundings. “There’s a cave nearby. We need to get out of the rain before we catch a fever or worse.”

𝕄ØЯE 𝕌PĐΛTΞŞ IИ GΛŁИØVΞŁŞ.ᑕØᗰ

Rain could cause their body temperatures to plummet in the highlands, resulting in fevers and illnesses.

“Alright,” Kellan agreed, trying to stand but receiving gentle support from Allison.

With steady determination, Allison helped him to his feet, and they made their way to the cave. Inside, away from the relentless rain, they found a sliver of comfort.

Allison carefully positioned Kellan against the cave’s stone wall. She gathered dry branches, quickly starting a fire to drive away the damp chill that clung to them. As the fire crackled, she picked up two sturdy branches.

“I tried to call for help,” Allison said, her voice calm yet tense. “But there’s no signal out here because of the rain. Emanuel will notice we’re missing and send someone to find us.”

She gently adjusted Kellan’s leg, speaking with precision. “This isn’t a dislocation. It’s a fracture. I’ll need to stabilize it to prevent further damage.” Kellan nodded, enduring the pain in silence.

His mind drifted back to the Allison he had met two years ago in the office — cool but overly docile. Then there was the Allison on the cruise ship bed, attractive and dominant, and now this Allison, skilled in both pottery and medical treatment.

Which of these versions was the real her?

Watching her deftly bandage his wounds, he wondered how frequently she found herself in such perilous situations.

Allison rose and tapped his coat. “Wearing this will trap heat from your body. Let me dry it.”

Kellan complied, removing his shirt to reveal his well-defined muscles and a constellation of old scars across his abdomen.

As Allison shook out the wet clothing, a necklace fell from the folds — a pristine pearl with a red agate inset, shimmering even in the dim light.

Allison’s eyes widened as she recognized it — the necklace she had lost that night.

For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked.

Though they both tried to maintain composure, the recognition was palpable.

The fire’s crackling cast their entwined shadows on the cave wall, creating an awkward atmosphere.

“I’ll dry the clothes,” Allison said.

“I’ll add more wood,” Kellan replied.

They spoke simultaneously, then turned to search for something to use as a weapon, each lost in their thoughts as the storm raged outside.

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