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“Perfect,” I let out a long breath of relief and jumped to my feet. “Let's go, then. I don’t want to stay here one moment longer than we have to.”

“Let me go first, little monster,” Bael said quickly, holding out an arm to halt me before the door.

“We’ve already been through here,” I reminded him.

“I know, but still. I’d rather be overcautious than lose you.”

He stepped through the door alone, grinning over his shoulder as he strode toward the statues. “I suppose you were ri?—”

Bael’s words broke off as a sharp, guttural noise of pain escaped his lips.

I screamed, downing out the sound of wheezing arrows as they flew everywhere, striking Bael repeatedly in the chest. My horror rose as I watched blood pool on the front of his already crimson jacket. The metallic scent filled my nostrils and the sight of it dripping onto the floor made me feel dizzy and sick. My screams became louder, echoing through the room and redoubling back on themselves.

Time seemed to slow down as I stood frozen, unable to tear my eyes away as he fell to his knees, slumping forward like a broken doll. The same frantic numb thought pounded over and over through my mind:He was going to die here.

We were all going to die here. Because I’d drain all my blood if it meant I could save him, and once I did, we’d all die anyway.

“Put him on the ground!”Ambrose yelled, darting toward us as we rushed out of the caves.

He reached for Bael’s arm, helping Scion to lower him to the floor, then bent over Bael’s body staring intently at each wound in rapid succession.

For once, Scion said nothing to Ambrose. He said nothing in general, stepping back to allow Ambrose more room to help. Scion’s normally handsome face had turned the color of sour milk, and his scar stood out all the more prominently because of it.

Not that I could see much anyway, as blinding tears streamed down my face.

I’d screamed myself hoarse in the vault, and now my throat was in shreds though I hardly noticed or cared. I felt a bit lightheaded, and blood streamed down my arms where I’d taken one of the arrows and slashed at my wrists, forcing my blood into Bael’s open mouth. I was quite sure the blood was the only reason he was still breathing at all, though for how much longer, I couldn’t tell.

I collapsed to my knees on the stone floor, and crawled over to Bael’s, his once powerful form now limp and lifeless. My heart felt like it was being torn apart as I cradled his cold fingers in mine.

Ambrose knelt on Bael’s other side, now running his fingers rapidly over the wounds. There were eight broken arrowssticking straight out of Bael's chest, as well as one in his shoulder. We hadn’t dared to pull them out in the vault, knowing he’d bleed out instantly so Scion had snapped the lengths off to make it easier to carry him.

“We have to pull them out.” My voice shook. “He can’t heal while they’re still in there.”

“I fucking know!” Ambrose barked, more aggressively than I’d ever heard him speak to me. Seeming to realize what he’d said, he looked up at me and lowered his voice. “I know. I’m sorry. I just can’t see how to get them all out before he loses too much blood.”

I didn’t say anything, merely lifted my still bleeding wrist back to Bael’s mouth.

“No!” Ambrose yelled, knocking my arm out of the way.

“What are you doing?” I demanded angrily. “He needs blood.”

“I know, but you can’t be the one to give it to him.”

“I already did!” I argued. “It’s too late to worry about what happens now, if he doesn’t have more he’ll die.”

“So will you,” Ambrose snapped. “Even if we ignore the very real likelihood that you’ll trigger the curse, you’re still half human. You can’t lose that much blood either.”

“I don’t care!” I yelled, about ready to shove him out of the way.

Ambrose ignored me, and shoved me back hard enough that I toppled into Scion’s legs. I jumped back up, practically spitting venom, only to see Ambrose bite down hard on his own wrist and press it to Bael’s still open mouth. I gaped, both surprised and relieved.

Suddenly, Scion had moved out from behind me, so quickly I didn’t even see him until he was kneeling on the ground as well and slicing into his own arm.

“Will that work?” I demanded.

“Yes,” Scion said shortly.

“But—” I began, unsure what I was even asking. I widened my eyes at Scion, exploring for him to explain.