“Seraphina? It’s Sergio.”
I called for her softer this time, afraid I might scare her off. When she didn’t respond, I just rushed to where I saw movement.
“You’re okay.” She didn’t move. “You’re okay.”
She was huddled behind a tree, her knees drawn to her chest, with her arms wrapped tight around them. Her face was streaked with blood and tears. Relief crashed over me so hard I almost dropped to my knees. Her eyes were wide and glassy with fear. She didn’t speak, just stared at me like she wasn’t sure if it was me.
I kneeled beside her, hands trembling as I reached out. She flinched at first.
“It’s me, Seraphina. It’s Sergio.”
When I said my name the second time, it finally registered to her who I was then her shaking body collapsed into me.
“Sergio.”
Relief surged through me that she even spoke, despite what she’d been through.
“I thought I lost you,” I whispered into her hair, holding her like I’d never let go. “I’ve got you. I promise, he’ll fucking die for this. If it’s the last thing I do.”
“I’m cold,” she whispered, her body trembling against mine.
I shifted, cradling her with one arm as I yanked off my blazer with the other. Her skin was cold as ice. The fabric snagged on a branch, but I tore it free, then wrapped it around her shoulders, and pulled her back to my chest.
“This should warm you up some. Do you think you can walk?” I asked, my voice soft, so I didn’t spook her.
I wanted to carry her, but I didn’t know where Dorian was. He could be wounded. Dead. Or worse—still hunting her down. I needed my hands free.
She nodded. So, I helped her to stand on shaky legs. I kept one arm around her, then grabbing my gun from my waistband.
We moved slowly because she was barefoot and not to alert Dorian if he was still around. The forest was too quiet so, every rustle made me tense. I scanned the trees for any movement or for shadows that didn’t belong.
“Stay close,” I whispered. “If I stop, you stop. No sound unless I speak.”
She nodded again, clutching the blazer tighter around her.
We weaved through the underbrush, ducking low when the terrain narrowed. I kept her behind me when the path grew tight, shielding her with my body. My ears strained for footsteps, breathing, anything out of the ordinary. A branch snapped somewhere to our left. We froze and I aimed it in that direction.
Nothing.
I started moving again, as I scanned the woods with every step we took. Seraphina followed without a word, her footsteps light and unsteady behind me.
Branches creaked overhead then silence.
We walked for what felt like hours, though it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes. The trees thinned, and a pale wash of light filtered through the canopy ahead. I raised a hand so she would slow down and, crouched as we approached the tree line.
The house. Its outline loomed but there was no movement. No lights other than a faint glow from one of the windows. No sign of anyone.
I didn’t like it.
I motioned for Seraphina to stay behind me and stepped forward. My eyes swept back and forth, looking for any signs of Dorian or Finley.
Then I saw him.
Finley.
He was sprawled on the ground near the front of the house. One arm was twisted at an odd angle beneath him. Blood soaked through his shirt, a dark stain spreading across his side.
I rushed to him and dropped to my knees. His chest rose but barely. His breaths were ragged and shallow.
