~LUCIAN'S POV
Zephyrus and I stood frozen, our faces contorted in livid horror as we took in the gruesome sight before us.
Alaric lay sprawled on the damp soil, his body unnervingly still, the white robe plastered to his chest and abdomen with blood.
His lips were stained with blood, the dark liquid clung to the opening of his mouth, and a thin rivulet ran down his chin, spattering onto the ground.
His face was deathly pale, the skin was strained over his cheekbones giving him a skeletal appearance.
And his eyes... though they flickered open for a brief moment, the grey orbs had darkened to a stormy black, an ominous mark I'd only ever seen once before.
"Dove," he whispered, his lips barely moving. "They... know about her." Blood sprayed as he coughed, warm droplets landing on both of us.
I didn't hesitate before gripping him firmly, and lifting him carefully, in other not to jostle him unnecessarily.
