Page 120 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

He pulled the sword out of me in a misplaced attempt to salvage his mistake.

My knees gave out, as if the sword had been the only thing keeping me standing.

My world slowed as I fell to the ground. I’d never felt anything as vividly as I did in those moments.

Alexander’s howl of pain and anger tore through the air, and I felt the wall in his mind detonate as an all-encompassing wave of fury crested through our bond.

I heard a sickening crunch as he snapped his brother’s neck.

Even if I hadn’t seen his lifeless body drop to the ground, I knew with an awful certainty that Dylan was dead…like I would be soon.

My wound wasn’t healing. There were too many pieces of silver lodged within me from the chipped sword.

It hurt to breathe. It hurt to not breathe.

It hurt to just exist. The wetness on my chest rapidly spread, drenching my clothes in a matter of seconds.

Alexander was instantly at my side, putting pressure on my injury.

“Eleanor,” he said desperately, his gaze dark and desperate, with no sign of his usual detachment. “Little rabbit, stay with me.”

Goddess, I still hated that nickname.

I laughed, or at least I tried to, but I choked on my own blood as my world grayed around the edges.

“I…I…” I tried speak, but forming words was harder than I remembered.

Alexander’s gaze darkened further and he trembled as if he were a child, his fear zinging through our bond.

“Save your strength,” he demanded. “The healers are almost here.”

I knew they wouldn’t get here in time. Despite Alexander putting pressure on my wound, my strength was diminishing with every breath I took.

I had to tell him. I wanted him to know.

“I… I remember…” The words were painful to get out, and I tasted my blood as I spoke. “The pool…you saved me.”

Alexander’s breathing stalled as realization set in.

Tears filled those beautiful blue eyes, and his next words were a plea.

“No, Eleanor, please?—”

I’d never seen Alexander cry before. Before today, I didn’t even think it was possible.

“T-the curse… Dylan said—” My words were cut off by a sudden, intense coughing bout that made blood spill over my lips. “Time…I wish we had more…”

Alexander’s tears felt warm against my cool skin as he insisted that I save my strength. I heard his mental bellows through the pack link as he called out for help.

My chest felt like it had caved in from the inside. My entire left side was drenched in blood.

I couldn’t feel my hands and toes anymore.

“I…I love you,” I whispered, but Alexander heard it, and his gaze went wild with panic.

“No, you don’t,” he growled, pulling me into his arms as though if he held me tight enough, I would stay. “I forbid it. You hate me, and you have your entire life ahead of you. The physicians?—”

My head dropped against his chest, my neck unable to bear its weight anymore.

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