SERAPHINA'S pov
It did not take long for the Velistra guards to arrive.
By the time the black vehicles burst through the forest path, my body had already begun shutting down from exhaustion.
Blood continued sliding slowly down my arm, soaking the torn sleeve of my dress while every breath scraped painfully through my chest.
The world around me blurred in and out of focus beneath the harsh headlights flooding the trees. Voices echoed around me, distant at first, until one of the guards rushed forward in panic.
"The Madam is bleeding badly!"
Strong hands lifted me carefully from the ground, but the movement sent violent pain tearing through my body and I bit down hard against my lip to stop myself from screaming.
My vision flickered again as they carried me toward the car, but I forced myself to grab one of the men by the wrist before they could leave.
