My heart thundered in my chest as Ronan and I burst through the mansion's front doors. The bond connecting me to Kaelen pulsed with distress—weak, thready, like a fading heartbeat.
"There!" Ronan shouted, pointing toward the gates.
The sight froze my blood. Kaelen staggered through the entrance, his tall frame hunched over in pain. Even from a distance, I could see the dark stains covering his shirt. Blood. So much blood.
We sprinted across the courtyard, closing the distance between us in seconds. Just as we reached him, Kaelen's legs gave out. I lunged forward instinctively, catching him as he collapsed into my arms. His weight dragged us both to the ground.
"Kaelen!" I cried, cradling his head in my lap. My hands came away slick with blood. "What happened? Who did this to you?"
His breathing was labored, each shallow gasp sending spikes of fear through me. His normally vibrant green eyes were glazed with pain as they found mine.
