Twenty.

Willow

“What’s that?!” He rips my hand forward to inspect it before I even have a chance to process it.

I cough again and more droplets of blood appear on my other hand. The taste of copper lingers on my tongue. Was I dying?

My lower back still aches from where I landed on the sharp rock, but I was accustomed to bruising. It was just another day in my life. But I had never coughed up blood before.

Concern is written on his face. He doesn’t even try to hide his emotions as he hauls me off the chair and into his arms.

I cough again, only this time, I feel the dribble of blood that makes its way out of the corner of my mouth and down over my chin.

If I’m dying, at least I get to look at someone handsome instead of the people keeping me held for the auction. Silver lining and all that.

My lungs burn as he races me through the house and out into the cold air. My body shivers, but I don’t think it's from the cold.

Zane puts me in the back of the car, cursing about something. But I can’t hea