Page 202 of Savior

Ruckus immediately studied the trees.

Clayton held up his hands like it was beyond him.

“Smart,” Marion murmured.

The medic reached for one of my hands. “Can I see this?”

I let her turn it over. Dirt packed the lines of my palm. Blood had dried beneath my fingernails.

I stared at it.

Max.

My stomach turned. “That’s his blood.”

Mom’s hand tightened on my shoulder.

Dad’s eyes sharpened. “Whose?”

I looked at him. “Max’s.”

Everything around me seemed to go quieter.

Mom went still. “You found him?”

I nodded.

Dad leaned closer. “Alive?”

The question hurt. “No.”

Mom covered her mouth. Marion moved to her immediately.

Clayton looked down.

Declan’s arm tightened around me.

Dad waited until I looked at him again. “Tell me what you remember.”

Cold fur. His face. Red twine.

“He was under a cedar,” I said. “There was red twine around his front leg.”

Riot looked at Dad.

Dad caught it. “Red twine?”

“Yes.” The answer came too fast.

My wrists burned. I rubbed one without thinking.

Declan’s gaze dropped to the movement.

I stopped.

Dad studied me for a beat. “What else?”

I swallowed. “His throat was cut.”