They reappeared beside an abandoned highway filled with overturned vehicles, remained there only long enough for Stefan to recognize their position, and disappeared again. The next several jumps carried them farther away from the fortress, but each one took more strength out of Stefan until he finally stumbled when they appeared beside the remains of a roadside building, catching himself against a damaged vehicle as his breathing became painfully uneven.
He straightened almost immediately and reached towards Ling Xuan again. "Again."
Instead of offering her arm, Ling Xuan took a bottle of water from the farming space and threw it towards him.
Stefan caught it against his chest, his expression darkening when he realized what she wanted. "I can continue."
"If you collapse before we find her, you become useless." Her words were harsh, but they forced him to stop.
