"No," I replied softly, my mind still trapped in thoughts of escape, wondering if I would ever truly get away.

"He's not doing well," Amara said with a heavy sigh. "Kris has already given up on him, but they’ve kept it hidden from Xavier."

My chest tightened. "What’s wrong with him?" I asked, genuinely worried.

"He has ischemia," she explained softly. "That means the blood flow and oxygen to part of his body are blocked. He’s on the edge of death, and no one knows how much time he has ...