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.
