Gav laid Serena flat, bracing her on one side.
Dex dropped to the other side and held her down, still gripping her hand like letting go might end her. His jaw was tight, eyes locked on her face.
She started coughing again, harsh and wet, each breath a broken rattle as her flooded lungs fought for air.
Don't you dare die on me. Don't you fucking dare.
Her panic washed into him through their matebond. He wanted to tell her to breathe and help her calm. But she couldn't breathe, so the words died before they reached his mouth.
"Hold on, baby. We've got you," he said instead, forcing the words past gritted teeth. It was all he could manage. He surged calm into her through their matebond and gave her hand a squeeze, knuckles white, trying to keep his own emotions in check.
Hyran tore his shirt, ripping a strip from it. He wrapped the cloth around his hand and grabbed what was lodged inside her.
He didn't look at any of them when he did it. There was no time for explanations.
