Page 196

One

The Nations

During the War

A yell has me turning, my crossbow loaded and ready to fire when I see her.

She’s fighting Regina. I watch as she takes her down, but she doesn’t have time to stop the warrior sneaking up on her.

I aim and fire. My heart races, and panic and fear like I have never felt before flows through me. But even now I know I am too far.

I ignore the soldiers attacking me, load and aim again, and scream as I fire repeatedly to reach him, but then she falls.

My heart stops.

My body goes cold.

No…

No!

Dropping my crossbow, I break into a sprint, uncaring about anything but getting to her.

My vision narrows as I leap and spin through those still fighting and scramble up the dune.

Dray is already there, finishing off the men as I drop to my knees beside her.

Her eyes are closed, and blood covers her from head to toe as I just stare.

Mouth open.

So much fear surges through me I can’t breathe, can’t hear or think.

“Baby?” I whisper.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but Evan is there suddenly, ripping off her clothes. He presses his ear to her chest and swears, starting compressions .

She’s dying.

I grab her lifeless, bloody hand and press it to my pounding chest. “If you die, I die,” I tell her as the others gather around us. I hear the cheers, the shouts of victory. The fighting stops, the war is won, but all we care about is our queen.