Page 777 of Coal Hearts

No use!

He cut off my air supply.

He coated me in blood, his and mine, blending, dripping...

Black spots danced in my vision.

My already tortured body faded far quicker than it should, thanks to so many nights of horror.

No.

Henri.

I gasped and choked.

I tried to hold on.

He went hazy, ghostly. The world faded and—

Victor bellowed as a bullet cracked from the hedges.

Rolling off me, he staggered to his feet and hopped on his left leg. Cursing with feral French, he looked down at the fresh bloom of blood on his trousers by his calf.

Scooting backward on my hands, I tried to put as much distance between us as possible.

My elbows wobbled and failed, sending me sprawling onto my back. Too weak. Too damaged. So useless!

Fuck!

My head roared. My empty stomach ached. My muscles were hopeless in this fight.

Limping toward me, Victor ducked to finish my murder, only another gunshot and a rustle of branches sent him reeling back. He spun and faced Mollie as she stepped out of the orchard, holding a scary-looking gun and pointing it right at Victor.

He froze.

She smiled.

She raised the muzzle to point at his heart. “Give the devil my regards—”

A horrifying pop sent Mollie tumbling backward. A spritz of blood erupted from her forehead. She fell like a brick wall, landing straight on her back.

“Sir, run!” a guard on the wall shouted in their loudhailer. Another pop released, kicking up dirt by my feet.

Snipers.

No.

Victor bared his teeth. He glowered at me and swayed in my direction. But then he smiled and winked. “I’ll see you in a few minutes, Ilyana. Once order has been restored, you’re the first I’m going to hang, draw, and quarter.”

He took off.

Cradling his arm, limping and cursing, he vanished past the invisible line of protection granted by his snipers.

Mollie.

Cupping my bleeding, bruised throat with one hand, I staggered to my trembling legs and stumbled to where Mollie lay.

Please, don’t...please don’t be dead.