Page 132 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

I reached for the door, his door, and opened it with a silent push.

The door creaked open under my hand, and I stepped into darkness so thick it felt like stepping into a grave.

And then—the scent hit me.

Blood.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I rushed forward.

Zander lay sprawled on his bed, his tunic ripped open, soaked crimson. His chest barely moved. Pale skin marred by vicious gashes, one deep enough to reveal torn muscle and darkened veins. Blood pooled beneath him, dripping steadily off the mattress.

I staggered to a halt, bile rising in my throat.

There was a trail of it, leading to the door. Whoever had attacked him hadn’t left clean. Good. I hoped they were bleeding out in some corridor.

They’d come while he slept.

Cowards.

I dropped to my knees beside him and pressed trembling fingers to his neck.

No reaction. No flinch. Just the faintest pulse beneath my touch, weak, thready.

Kaelith,I whispered into the bond,he’s not responding.

The blade pierced something vital,she growled, her voice dark with urgency.He won’t survive it without help. Use your blood, Ashlyn. Or he dies.

I looked around frantically, hands slipping on the bloody sheets until I saw it.

A letter opener, silver, curved, lying forgotten on the bedframe, already soaked in Zander’s blood.

I snatched it up, and wiped it off, my heart hammering, and pressed it to my wrist. It sliced clean, sharp, the pain immediate and hot.

I climbed onto the bed, straddling his waist, and lifted his head carefully with one hand. “Stay with me,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Just… stay.”

Then I pressed the bleeding cut to his lips.

Blood smeared over his mouth, pooling in the corner. He didn’t move.

Seconds passed like hours.

Still nothing.

My body trembled, the bond with Kaelith pulsing wildly, like she could feel my desperation.

Then—a twitch.

His brow furrowed. A breath, shallow, but there.

The wound on his chest shimmered faintly, then began to close, slowly, the torn muscle knitting together like the skin was stitching itself from the inside out.

Veins darkened with new strength.

His pulse steadied beneath my fingers.

I let out a choked breath, nearly collapsing over him.

It had worked.