Vencian knelt and pulled Reine into his arms. Her body trembled against his chest. Blood soaked through his sleeve and pooled in his palm as he pressed hard over the wound. Her breathing came shallow and uneven.
He gripped her shoulder and whispered, "Keep breathing, Reine. Don't close your eyes." Then louder, desperate, "Nothing's going to happen to you, do you hear me?"
The blood kept leaking through his fingers.
As he pressed harder, his hands slipped on her wet shirt. She was cold to the touch, her skin clammy beneath his fingers. Thick smoke filled the air, burning his throat as he tried to breathe.
Reine tried to speak. Her voice cracked with each word. "I really… wanted to go to that place… you said… Moonfrost Keep."
