Page 566 of Reign

“—ciano!”

I jerk toward it.

My heart starts pounding so violently that my hand nearly slips from Luciano’s arm.

He catches my wrist.

“Rafa,” he says. “It’s Rafa.”

Another voice calls his name from higher on the embankment.

“It’s Rafa,” Luciano repeats. “You’re safe.”

I turn toward the slope.

“We’re over here!” I scream. “Please! Hurry!”

Lights cut through the trees.

Men descend the embankment, boots sliding through wet dirt and leaves. Rafael reaches us first, with Rodrigo and three other men only seconds behind him.

Rafael’s gaze moves over Luciano.

Then me.

Then all the blood between us.

His expression changes.

“Get her out of here,” Luciano orders.

“No.”

Rafael crouches beside us. “Rodrigo, take his arm. Luis, get the medical bag.”

“No.” I press harder against Luciano’s wound. “I’m staying.”

“Elena,” Luciano says.

“I’m the one keeping pressure on it.”

“Rafael will take care of you.”

“I don’t want Rafael!”

Rafael’s eyes flick toward me, but he doesn’t respond.

Luis drops beside Luciano and opens the medical bag. The moment his hands reach for the wound, Rafael catches me around the waist and pulls me backward.

My palm separates from Luciano’s arm.

“No!”

I fight immediately.

“Let me go!” I claw at Rafael’s hands, twisting hard enough that pain tears through my shoulder. “Luciano!”

“Princesa,” Luciano calls. “Stay with Rafa.”