Chapter 16
I crouched next to Lucien, my shaking hands pressing against his chest, trying to stop the blood flow. His breathing was faint and uneven, his face ashen and far too cool to my touch. His once-strong heartbeat now fluttered weakly, fading with each passing moment. I had never felt such fear.
"Lucien, don't give up," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Please, stay with me."
But his eyes were barely open, seeming to look through me. He was hardly aware of his surroundings. The injury was extremely grave, and the bleeding was excessive. I was uncertain about the amount of time remaining, but it was limited. A sense of panic surged within me, constricting my chest and making it difficult to breathe.