ter F

ra'

woods hoping for a f

. My eyes were fuzzy as I continued to lose blood. I didn't

as no familiar path I could

I came. Maybe I could remember the path. B

asional rustle of leaves and the distant

t when I heard a footstep. But it was just the wind. Or w

t drifting

golden eyes. When he looked into

tand any of wha

nd how did I get suddenl

My chest

she do t

real. Like none of

room where a maid handed me a white floral dress for a mating u

ten minute

mbled as I h

forcing my voice to shake

id hes

ered, holding the

"Stay here.

ped out, my eyes ro

near the wall behind that seemed l

s through for someon

ly chance. My

dy through; my dress ca

leg. I gasped, biting down hard on my

I was halfway throu

found myself in a forest with blood gus

••••••••

dom or danger because every shadow looked lik

f which way

oot, almost face-planting in the dirt. Mud stuck to my shoe

ound, groaning d

orse, and my skin aro

e to come here

take me. But I remembered I had survi

limping, blood seeping

hing my legs through, praying for a pathw

p twist, almost maki

h, refusing to le

over, "Just keep go

e it, I was on the fl

too heavy to lift. Almos

save me now? I st

ped when a shadow mo

clearly, but I could tel

u doing here

to the

gging myself backwards.

wanted to hurt you, I wou

make me feel

said quickly. "Di

trength left in me, and there

d. "Are you alway

me!" I

g about, but I'm concerned about a bleeding lady who can

, ignoring the sh

help!" My heart w

ed, moving closer

s his hands hovered clos

ith a smirk. "Cause

lost my stance, but h

grin. "Would you let me

elt worse every passing minute. I

et him, he reach

t, carefully insp

oison ivy in it is making it wor

bs. What more do

lady like you doing out he

helpless I was. I couldn't bring mysel

t out of here

a moment before his fingers pressed gently arou

inful like I tho

pain now," he said. "But if you keep r

his words made

hen took out a strip of cloth

the blood sta

do that?" My

is one of the wound dres

een and heard e

lping me?" I as

you to die helpless," h

didn't trus

n't sit right. He seeme

g my wound perfectly, bru

tter than when I

." He said, h

push myself up before he

g me?" I asked. "I

sure you

me down."

o get clear. I was almos

n the ground. "We need to move now

going to do that? A flicker of hop

d. "Of cou

rethinking my decisio

," he ca

nefit of the doubt. It was better than

limped forward w

clear now, and I did

as I turned to him, waiting for his

my head slowly.

read th

ut he grabbed my a

ath hi

been surrounded

eps filled t

ch twist

hispered. "Please do

as I took cov

o emerge fro

saw him.

s locked onto

move, breat

going?" he said with a ca

swer. I wou

aze shifte

you with he

stopped

Lucian, who now stood besid

at