With a raw growl, Dean attacked Bastian again.
I staggered to my feet, then ran and jumped on Dean’s back.
He growled and spun. I yanked another knife off my belt.
He reared backward, shoving me into a table and I fell. I hit the carpet and rolled into a crouch.
Bastian advanced, his face promising death.
Dean backed up, then turned and ran.
I rose. “Coward! That’s all you are, Dean.”
Near the ballroom door, Dean paused, and reached under his jacket.
Dammit, what now?
He raised a small, compact combat crossbow. Time slowed as he shifted and aimed it directly at me.
Thwack.
I heard the bolt release and time clicked back in. Bastian slammed into me and we crashed to the floor.
Damn, he was heavy. “Bastian?”
He didn’t move. I heard him groan.
I froze. That’s when I felt warm wetness sliding down my neck.
No.
I pushed him off me and rolled him onto his back. The small crossbow bolt was lodged in his shoulder.
“Bastian.”
He groaned again.
Blood. There was so much blood.
I touched the bolt gently. I hadn’t seen the head. I knew that yanking it out could do more damage.
“Least…he hit my other shoulder,” Bastian gritted out. “Not the one you already stabbed.”
“Be quiet.” I heard the pain in his voice, saw the blood pumping out of him. I slipped my shirt off, balled it up, and pressed it around the wound. He groaned again. “Don’t you dare bleed out on me, Bastian Thorne.”
Dammit, my voice was shaky. A part of me had always thought Bastian was invincible.
I patted down his side, then slid my hand into the pocket of his pants.
“I’m not sure now’s the time to be frisky, darling, but I’ll try.”
“Quiet.” I held the phone to his face to unlock it, then scrolled until I found Landon’s name.
“Bastian?” Landon’s deep voice.
“No, it’s Lark. We’re in the ballroom at the Avernus. Bastian was shot with a crossbow. We need your help.”
The doctor cursed. “I’m on my way.”
