Her eyes burst open, and around her she saw nothing.
No twisted shadows, no bloodred eyes.
The sky was empty, and the only thing before her was Aaron, dying.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE
Theo charged across the bridge like a wolf protecting its den. He looked back, ensuring Manos still followed. Breyer and Fee not far behind. When they reached the south tower, Helaina lay in the grass, trembling. He had felt her distress; deep in his gut he had heard that inner call.
Go to her. Now!
He’d been bitten and gored, suffering horrible wounds in these mountains, yet the sound of her screams was more agonizing than all of those combined. He would never forgive himself if she was harmed, if she was taken like so many others.
What was he thinking, putting her out here?
He saw a swirl of what looked to be dark fog. It had dissipated by the time he reached Helaina.Her shadows.
Aaron was on the ground, barely breathing while he lay propped in Helaina’s arms.
“Manos, what did he see?” Theo muttered.
The mind reader looked at his captain with calculated calm. “He didn’t see it coming. His memory is just blood in the dark. Agatha being ripped away into the night.” Manos turned away, horror etched on his face. “She’s gone.”
Helaina’s trembling fingers stroked the hair of the surviving soldier as Breyer ripped his shirt open, exposing his chest.
Please, don’t let it be too late.
She mentally itemized his symptoms.Open chest wound. Short of breath. Breathing rapid and shallow.One of Aaron’s arms was shredded into thick bands. There was bone missing, only muscle filleted at his side. His remaining hand still gripped his heaving chest.
There had to be something she could do. She tried to conjure one of those medical texts she’d read in her mind, recall anything Madge taught her that might help.
“Call for Lionel!” Fee said to Manos, placing her long fingers over Aaron’s chest to stifle the oozing.
Helaina’s muscles went from rigid to relaxed. That’s right, they had a powerful healer here. He had brought her back from the brink, he could do the same for Aaron.
“And get Callum,” Fee added with such pleading in her eyes it made Helaina’s body grow taut again. Her aloof demeanor was wholly gone.
Manos looked at Theodon with pure helplessness. “Lionel left for the northern peak this morning. He can’t possibly get here in time.”
Oh gods.
Theo scanned the darkness, sword in hand. Standing guard in case one of the creatures returned to finish the job.
Aaron stared up at the stars, as if resigned that death was coming.
Helaina exhaled deeply.No, no more death.She would not accept this.
He was sweating and pale, nearly all blood drained from his face. His lips were moving. Helaina had to tilt her head so her ear was nearly touching his lips to hear him.
“I—I can’t breathe.”
Helaina examined him again, her hands covered in gore. “A belt. I need a belt or a piece of clothing. Anything we can tie in a knot or tighten.”
Without hesitating, Fee loosened her armor and pulled the thin white shirt from under her leathers, leaving nothing but a banded fabric around her slim chest.
“A stick—a thick one,” Helaina commanded.
Breyer ran toward the forest, the scorn she had worn earlier long gone. She came back with the requested item as Helaina began tying the shirt around the shredded limb. She placed the stick between her teeth as she wrapped and tied the shirt as tightly as she could, creating a tourniquet around the injury.
