Asa's POV

We were ten vehicles strong, engines roaring like a storm as we tore through the southern forest road, headlights slicing through the smoke ahead. The world blurred into motion as every muscle in me thrumming with one thought: Eliana.

"We're closing in."

Samael said over the comms and then suddenly—

BOOM!!!

There was an explosion that came out of the direction we were heading to, a burst of orange that lit the treeline ahead. The shockwave slammed into us like a hammer, ...