When Enemies Breathe Together
Sound dulled into a distant hum.
Then warmth spread beneath her ribs.
She looked down.
Blood.
Aiden turned just in time to see her collapse.
“Elara!”
The sound of her name tore from him, raw and uncontrolled.
He caught her before she hit the ground, hands instantly pressing against the wound. Blood soaked through his fingers far too quickly.
“No,” he said under his breath. “No, no, no…”
Her breathing came shallow, shocked.
“I’m… okay,” she tried to say.
“You’re not,” he snapped, panic breaking through his control.