Chapter 61. Ride or Die

The mill still burned behind them.

They’d left the wreckage an hour ago, but the smoke followed—clinging to their jackets, hair, throats. Every breath Riven took tasted like ash. Her ribs ached. Her palms were raw. Her father’s box, maps, and ring were gone, burned in a fire he’d tried to start years ago, and she’d only now finished.

She sat on the hood of a rusted-out Crownless car, watching the black plume in the distance. The fire hadn’t died. Maybe it never would.

The others were scattered across the ridge, silent or whispering in half-sentences. Crownless, who’d survived the Ravens. Crownless, who had once called Hale king, then ghost, lies. She could feel their eyes. Not defiant. Not worshipful. Just wary.

They no longer knew who she was. Neither did she.

Boots scuffed gravel nearby. Axel dropped onto the hood beside her, pipe resting across his lap. His cheek was bruised. His jacket was torn and streaked with soot. He looked like hell.

Good