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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.”