"Jason," she called, starting to turn.
The world turned white. A deafening crash roared, carrying with it an almost tangible force.
Caia half reared with a scream, while Eva tried to make sense of what had just happened.
Instinct kicked in as she controlled Caia. Somehow Eva managed to maintain her seat and prevent Brisa from falling.
The mare dropped back to her feet as Jason's riderless horse pelted past them.
Adrenaline shot Eva's heart into her throat, her pulse pounding with enough force to make her dizzy.
Her gaze landed on the tree, now cracked down the middle and smoking.
Lightning, her mind supplied.
The shock of the close call wore off, bringing Eva back to herself. She let up on the reins, relieved when Caia didn't try to bolt.
The mare stood still, her head hanging down as her sides heaved.
The smell of burnt ozone was present even over the rain.
Eva made soothing noises as she bent forward to stroke Caia's neck, catching sight of Jason's prone body as she did so.
"Oh no," Eva said.
She shifted Brisa, carefully balancing her on Caia's back as she dismounted.
She looped the reins over Caia's neck and hurried toward Jason. Panic filled her thoughts. Worry Jason had been stricken by the lightning or taken a bad fall made it impossible to focus.
Eva reached Jason and fell to her knees beside him.
He sat up with a groan. "I'm fine."
Eva couldn't let herself be certain of that until she checked him out. She ran her hands over his arms and torso, her gaze searching for any wounds.
Jason caught her hands. "Eva, I promise. I'll live."
Eva gave him an impulsive hug. The emotions she felt, the relief over his safety, the abrupt cessation of fear, spilled over into that hug. Along with the love she felt for him.
Jason was her brother. Maybe not by birth or blood, but he'd come to mean as much to her as her sister.
"You scared me," Eva confessed.
Jason squeezed her, the only sign of how much her actions meant to him.
The moment was soon broken by the sound of movement down the canyon. Jason drew back, panic on his face.
"They're coming," Eva said. "We have to go."
Eva helped Jason stand, supporting him as he took a step and nearly fell. Together they lurched to the side before Eva caught her balance, lowering him to the ground.
"It's my ankle. I don't think I can walk," Jason said as Eva busied herself examining his leg.
He flinched, drawing his foot away as she tried to rotate it.
"It's sprained," Eva said in a flat voice.
Her mind raced. Caia couldn't carry three people. Not for long and not for very fast. Without Jason's horse, their options were limited.
Eva closed her eyes, trying to think. She just needed a moment. A single second to consider her options.
Only life wasn't going to give her that.
Already, she could hear their pursuers, their voices eager as if they sensed they were close. They must have run into Jason's horse.
Eva had seconds to decide.
Stay or go.
Jason pushed her away. "Go. You have to."
Eva didn't move, her head shook slightly.
"Go! I don't want you here." Jason's voice cracked.
Even afraid, he was trying to do the right thing.
It solidified Eva's determination.
She grabbed his arm, pulling him to his feet. "Come on."
She whistled for Caia.
"You know we'll never make it if we stay together. Caia won't be able to carry all of us."
"I know," Eva admitted.
Caia stopped in front of her, Brisa still draped over her back.
Jason's face showed confusion. "Then what are you doing?"
"I'm not going. You are," Eva said, her throat tight.
Jason resisted as she tried to help him into the saddle. "No, I'm not leaving you."
A puff of air containing a chuckle left Eva. "Little brother, I could say the same thing."
Raw emotion stared out at Eva from Jason's eyes.
This time when it came, her smile was genuine as she cupped his face. "I do consider you a brother which is why you have to go."
A sob shook Jason's chest as he shook his head.
"Listen to me. They're not after you; they're after me," Eva said, trying to get through to him.
Jason was as stubborn as she was. He would never leave her behind unless she made him. She had one shot to get him to listen. Fail and they would all die.
"If I leave right now, they'll kill you." Eva forced herself to be ruthless as she laid everything out. There wasn't time for anything else.
Their pursuers already knew that one of their group was on foot. If Eva rode away, they'd search for, and likely find, Jason. There weren't enough hiding spots for him to evade a concentrated effort to capture him.
Once that happened, things could go two ways. They could capture and then use him against Eva, or they could kill him.
Eva was betting on the latter. They wouldn't want anyone slowing them down in their chase.
"When they're done, they'll still come after me. They'll hunt me down and chances are they'll succeed," Eva said. "Your sacrifice will be for nothing. They'll kill Brisa and they'll still capture me."
Jason's flinch told Eva all she needed to know. He was listening. She simply had to make him see this was the best option available to them.
"You know what Ajari said. We'll be blamed if anything happens to her. Even if that wasn't the case, I made a promise to look after her—and you. I keep my promises."
Pleading filled Jason's face. "Please don't make me do this."
She reached for Caia's reins. "You don't have a choice and you know it."
"You're asking me to leave you here. You know what Caden would think of that," he warned.
Eva did know, and it tore at her insides. "I have a chance on foot. You don't. This is the best option I can see."
One that gave everyone a chance.
Granted it wasn't much of one, but it was better than nothing.
Eva saw the surrender on his face, the way his shoulders seemed to bow. He knew there was no other way but didn't like it.
That was okay. He didn't have to. All he had to do was get on Caia and see Brisa and himself to safety.
Shouts came from the other side of the canyon.
"You're out of time," Eva barked.
She moved to Caia's head, holding the mare steady as Jason fit his good foot into the stirrup and mounted.
Caia jerked, trying to sidle out from under Jason's weight.
Eva held her still. "Shh, my dear. I need you now more than ever."
The mare settled, her gaze focused on her human as the sound of their pursuers grew.
They'd spotted them.
Eva slid a hand along her nose. "I know you don't want to, but I need you to run."
Caia tried to toss her head as if she understood Eva's words and disagreed.
Eva tightened her grip, forcing the mare to meet her gaze. "Please see them to safety. You're the only one I can count on."
For a long moment, Caia's stubbornness held before Eva saw signs of her relenting.
She wasn't happy about the two on her back, but she also wouldn't throw them off. At least not right now.