I have a million questions, but now is not the time.
Whatever magical properties that liquid has, it works. Hex calms almost instantly, and I finally manage to get the belt around his arm and tighten it, easing the bleeding.
“Keep his arm upright. Do you have his hand? Putit in a bag and get it on ice. Someone needs to call an ambulance or take him to a hospital now. There’s a chance they could reattach it,” I pant, my body utterly exhausted as the adrenaline slowly ebbs.
I push my hair away from my face and look down at myself, completely coated in his blood. I swallow back the bile that burns my throat and check over Hex again, his eyes now rolling back in his head.
“He’s lost too much blood,” I say. “He needs to get to a hospital now.”
The room is quiet.
I look up from Hex. All of them are staring at me.
I risk a quick glance down to see if my robe has come apart in the commotion. It has slightly, but nothing’s exposed.
I frown in confusion. “Are you listening to me? He needs to get to a hospital,” I snap.
I shake my head, not understanding why none of them are moving. I reach for Hex to check his pulse.
“Here,” Clutch says, halting me.
I look up to see him holding bandages, blankets, and towels. I give him a tight smile and take the bandage, wrapping it around the raw end of Hex’s arm. I wind it as tight as I can.
“Keep pressure on it and make sure his arm staysraised. If none of you are going to call for an ambulance, I guess I will,” I huff.
Making sure Clutch is holding Hex’s arm up, I climb off the bed. As I move around it, all of them—apart from Clutch—shift, blocking me from the door. Their stares are intense. Lucian stands to the side, saying nothing.
The way they’re all looking at me forces me to step back.
“I’m not going to run. He needs help,” I insist.
“You helped him,” Silas says coldly, his eyes pinning me in place. I shuffle back again as something in the air shifts, and I wrap my arms protectively around myself. “Why?” he adds.
I blanch, tilting my head, confused by the question. “Why wouldn’t I?” I counter, my voice cracking.
Lucian steps forward, placing himself in front of me, facing his men.
“Take Hex to his room. Talon, you’re in charge of his care. Viktor, he’s lost blood somehow and needs a healing elixir. When he’s settled, I want every one of you in Court,” he orders, his voice low with a menacing edge.
“No, Lucian, herbal remedies won’t work,” I startto protest, but he ignores me as they move, taking Hex with them.
Leaving Lucian and me alone.
The room has gone from panic and chaos to utter silence.
My mind is spinning. All I can smell is blood. All I can see is blood. And on top of that, they’re just going to let him die. That amount of blood loss, he won’t be able to recover. The loss of his hand, that kind of open wound… His risk of infection is through the roof.
I’m so lost in my thoughts, I don’t realise Lucian has turned to face me until he’s standing directly in front of me. My breathing is ragged, my mind fighting and failing to process everything that just happened.
Lucian takes my face in his hands, tilting my head back and forcing me to look at him.
“Calm, petal,” he breathes, his voice smooth as velvet. “I questioned it before, but after that, I know for certain.” His amber eyes are ablaze.
“Know what?” I choke out, his thumbs caressing my blood-soaked cheeks.
“That you were never meant to escape me.” He brushes his lips seductively over mine.
“I…I don’t want to be here,” I rasp.
