Taran lets out a slow exhale before he meets Reid’s eyes. “He’s in the tent. He took an arrow to the chest.”
Reid darts away, already halfway into the tent before I process what was said.
Then it dawns on me.
I glance from the tent back to Taran. “Are he and Emlyn…?”
Taran nods, looking at the ground. “Their healer’s seen him. He lost a lot of blood, but since he made it this long, she thinks he’ll recover. If infection doesn’t take him.”
I turn back to the tent. A deep, aching sadness rolls through me for Reid, leaving emptiness behind. He never said anything, but I always assumed part of the reason he threw himself into incanting was to avoid being a third wheel to me and my endless stream of girlfriends. To have finally found someone, and be at risk of losing them so soon…
“Can he be moved?” Owena asks.
Taran sighs. “We got him here, but it was painful. Cadoc said he could spare us a horse, but he needs rest.”
My mouth tightens. “Where’s Ellie?”
“In the tent. She was getting him comfortable after we pulled the arrow out.”
I bolt in that direction, but Taran grabs my arm, stopping me.
“There’s something we need to talk about.” He lifts his head to my face but doesn’t meet my eyes.
I tug my arm free. “Can it wait?” Ellie’s so close that my insides are leaping against my skin. I can connect with my brother later.
“No, it can’t. It’s about Ellie.”
That stops me. “What is it?”
Taran closes his eyes, taking a deep breath.
“Caeo?”
I whirl around at the most wonderful sound in the world.
Ellie’s voice.
She stands at the entrance of the tent, frozen in place, with all the color draining from her beautiful face.
Chapter 43
Ellie
No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I should’ve listened. To Taran. To Reid. Every warning, every plea.
But I didn’t.
I thought I was helping. That being with Taran would make me matter. Let me fix things.
How could I have been so stupid?
Caeo’s face lights up as he bounds toward me. Before I know it, I’m wrapped in his arms. I can’t move, can’t hug him back. If it weren’t for him holding me, I would crumble to the ground.
My next breath catches in my throat. Dreading what I’ll find, my eyes seek Taran as Caeo embraces me. Cadoc’s people rush by all around us, shouting as they pack up their camp.
There—looking away, at the ground. Defeated.
