"Kaelen, stay with me, damn it!" Ariana's voice cracked as she gripped his hand, her fingers trembling against his cold, clammy skin. Blood seeped through the makeshift bandage wrapped around his chest, staining her hands red. His breathing was shallow, each ragged inhale a knife twisting in her gut.
His dark eyes fluttered open, barely focusing on her. "Ari… stop fussing. I've had worse."
"Bullshit," she snapped, her tone sharp enough to cut through the dim, flickering light of the cabin. "You're bleeding out, and you're still trying to play tough guy? Just shut up and let me help you."
Kaelen's lips twitched into a faint smirk, but it faded fast as a cough rattled through him, blood speckling his chin. Ariana's heart lurched. She turned her head, shouting over her shoulder. "Mira! Where the hell are you? He's getting worse!"
