Page 33 of Pretense

“Stay down.” Julien’s arms tightened around Farrendel, holding him in place. “You need to shield us. Use your magic.”

Farrendel reached for his magic, and he nearly cast it at Julien to make him release his hold. But through the hazy whirl, he could make out Iyrinder lying there, blood soaking the front of his shirt. One of the other guards had dragged him into the shelter of the wall and pressed his hands to the wound.

That was a gunshot. Someone was shooting at the palace.

Someone had shot Essie.

Farrendel shuddered, his chest tearing apart. He drew on his magic, placing a shield across the gate and wall to keep more shots from hitting anyone else.

Gripping Julien’s arm, Farrendel struggled to put words in order. “Essie. Shot. I have to get to her.” Farrendel gasped in a breath past the agony from the heart bond.

Julien nodded and opened his mouth, then his gaze swung back to the gate.

Now Farrendel could hear more shouting, and he could sense Essie getting closer. He opened a gap in the shield of his magic as the guards swung the gate open.

A carriage raced inside, and Farrendel leapt for it, not even waiting for it to halt before he clambered up and over the side, tumbling to the carriage floor.

Essie lay across one of the benches, her face white, blood soaking the front of her green dress. So much blood.

Too much blood.

Edmund knelt on the floor next to her, pressing his hands to her wound, dark blood covering his fingers. Jalissa held Essie’s head on her lap, her own dress bloody.

Farrendel lunged and clasped Essie’s hand.

Another, deeper stab of pain lanced through his chest. He dragged in a breath past it, even though it now felt like his own chest, his own lungs, were tearing apart.

The carriage rumbled up the drive until it halted in front of Winstead Palace.

Farrendel only vaguely registered someone shouting for the doctor. Averett, Paige, and Essie’s mother ran down the steps of the palace. Voices babbled in an indistinct tumult.

But his world had narrowed down to Essie and their heart bond. Each breath shuddered through him. As he breathed, so did Essie, trembling with wet, bloody gasps.

This was a wound too deep for Escarlish medicine to heal. Farrendel could tell that already.

He forced himself to raise his head, his gaze so tunneled he could barely see those around him. He focused on Averett and Julien standing on the step of the carriage. “I need to get her to Tarenhiel.”

Averett nodded, but he stared down at Essie with puckered lines across his brow. “It would take too long to go all the way to Estyra. I’ll send word to Weylind. A healer can meet you at the border.”

Farrendel could barely force his own nod. Of course. That would cut the trip nearly in half.

It would still take twelve hours to reach the border.

Even with the heart bond, Essie would not last that long, he did not think.

Averett and Julien disappeared, replaced by an Escarlish surgeon. He climbed into the carriage, Edmund and Jalissa making room for him. He promptly opened his medical bag.

Farrendel took Jalissa’s place by Essie’s head, kneeling beside the bench. He could not bring himself to watch the surgeon work.

Essie cried out, stirring, her eyes fluttering. Her head tilted toward him. “Farren…”

“I am here, Essie.” Farrendel brushed her hair from her face, cradling her head. Her eyes blinked as she tried to focus on him. He brushed a kiss to her forehead. “Do not let go, shynafir. Hold tight to the heart bond, and do not let go.”

She might have nodded, but her eyes closed. Her body went even more limp in his arms.

Somewhere, Edmund and the surgeon were talking. Farrendel’s mind was buzzing far too much for him to understand.

Averett returned, resting a hand on Farrendel’s shoulder. “The tracks are being cleared to Tarenhiel as we speak, and a message has been sent to Weylind.”

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