CIAN
I caught her before she hit the ground.
My arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against my chest. The weight of her body pressed into me, and I had to lock my knees to keep from going down myself. Everything in my torso screamed in protest. The pink scar tissue stretched and pulled with the movement, sending sharp waves of pain through my ribs.
I ignored it.
Her head lolled against my shoulder. Her eyes were closed, and though her breathing was shallow, it was steady.
I shifted my grip, hooking one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back, and lifted her fully. She didn't wake. Her body went completely limp in my arms, trusting even in unconsciousness.
I turned toward Garrett.
He stood near what could only be called the entrance now with three other sentinels, all of them staring at the scorched mark where Valentine had been moments ago. The smell of burnt air still lingered, acrid and wrong.
"Take care of this."
Garrett's eyes snapped to mine.
