bChapter /b317

Pain was the first thing Jade registered as consciousness slowly returned. Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy as she forced them open, the dim light of an unfamiliar room slowlying into focus.

A motel room. Cheap but clean. The wallpaper was faded, with a pattern that might have been stylish twenty years ago.

She tried to speak, but her throat was so dry that only a raspy breath escaped. That small effort sent waves of pain radiating from her shoulder down through her chest. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes–not from emotion, just the body’s involuntary response to pain.

“Jade?”

T

Ethan’s voice came from beside her,ced with relief and exhaustion. His hand was wrapped around hers, warm and steady.

“Do you need water?” he askedb, /balready moving to get it.

He kept his right hand carefully angled away from her view.

Ethan returned with a ss, gently sliding his arm beneath her shoulders to help her sit up. The movement sent fresh waves of pain through her body, but she clenched her jaw and endured it. He held the ss to her lips, and she managed a small sip before the effort became too much. The water felt like heaven against her parched throat, but swallowing was agony.

“This ce is safe for now,” he said, lowering her back to the pillow. “Just rest.”

She wanted to ask questions–where they were, how long she’d been out, what had happened–but the brief moment of rity was already fading. Darkness pulled her back under, and she surrendered to it.

When Jade woke again, the room was darker. Night had fallen, and only a smallmp in the corner provided illumination. Ethan was still there, this time holding a bowl of something steaming.

“The motel manager’s wife made some soup,” he exined, noticing her gaze. “Think you can try to eat something?”

Her stomach churned at the thought of food, but she knew she needed to rebuild her strength. She managed a small nod.

Ethan helped her sit up against the headboard, arranging pillows to support her back. As he did, the sleeve of his shirt rode up, revealing the bandages wrapped around his hand and wrist.

“What happened to your hand?” she asked, her voice still barely above a whisper.

He nced down as if surprised to see the injury himself. “Ran into some Shadow operatives night beforest. It’s just the hand, nothing

serious.”

Feeding her was a slow, frustrating process. Each spoonful felt like swallowing ss, and after barely ten spoonfuls, she couldn’t take any moreb. /bEthan didn’t push, bjust /bset the bowl aside and wiped her mouth gently. He poured a cup of warm water and took her medication from his pocket.

He carefully crushed the pills between two spoons, mixing the powder with water before helping her drink the bitter solution.

“We can’t go back to Princeton,” she said once the medicine was down. The words took enormous effort, but she needed him to fn9421 Find the newest release on Find_Novel(./fn9421

9:55 bThu/bb, /bbOct /b2

understand. “They’ll be waiting.”

A return to Princeton would be suicide. She knew the Shadow Organization’s capabilities better than anyone–their operatives blended perfectly into crowds, striking without warning. They could find targets anywhere, even underground.

“Max, he…b” /bshe whispered.

“bHe’s /bsafe,” Ethan assured her. “I contacted Colonel Edwards. The military connection should make them think twice.”

Relief washed over her face. She looked at Ethan–really looked at him. The dim light couldn’t hide the exhaustion etched into his features. Dark circles underlined bloodshot eyes, and stubble shadowed his jaw. How long had it been since he’d slept?

“Ethan,” she said softly.

He leaned closer immediately. “What is it? Are you hurting?b” /b

His hand touched her forehead, then her cheek. “You’re still running a temperature, but the medication should help with that. You won’t feel bas /bbad once it kicks in.”

Her body felt like it had been soaked in sweat a dozen times over. The sheets beneath her were damp, and her skin felt mmy.

“Would you like me to help clean you up?” he asked hesitantly. “It might make you morefortable.”

She couldn’t answer, but her lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile.

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