1. The Nations
One
The Nations
During the War
A yell has me turning, my crossbow loaded and ready to fire when I see her.
She’s fighting Regina. I watch as she takes her down, but she doesn’t have time to stop the warrior sneaking up on her.
I aim and fire. My heart races, and panic and fear like I have never felt before flows through me. But even now I know I am too far.
I ignore the soldiers attacking me, load and aim again, and scream as I fire repeatedly to reach him, but then she falls.
My heart stops.
My body goes cold.
No…
No!
Dropping my crossbow, I break into a sprint, uncaring about anything but getting to her.
My vision narrows as I leap and spin through those still fighting and scramble up the dune.
Dray is already there, finishing off the men as I drop to my knees beside her.
Her eyes are closed, and blood covers her from head to toe as I just stare.
Mouth open.
So much fear surges through me I can’t breathe, can’t hear or think.
“Baby?” I whisper.
I don’t know how much time has passed, but Evan is there suddenly, ripping off her clothes. He presses his ear to her chest and swears, starting compressions .
She’s dying.
I grab her lifeless, bloody hand and press it to my pounding chest. “If you die, I die,” I tell her as the others gather around us. I hear the cheers, the shouts of victory. The fighting stops, the war is won, but all we care about is our queen.