The Thief (A Tale of Heroes & Demons Book 2)

Chapter 18

The Infallibility of Time

The blood wouldn't stop. Raenen pressed his hands against the wounds, trying, trying, to staunch the flow.

Half of his mind registered that the shadows had receded—the demon was gone. Saege stood behind him, quiet in the breeze that wound through the trees. But these parts of him, those that were aware that a world existed outside of this moment, faded into the background of his consciousness as the life of his friend leeched into the dirt beneath them.

All he was were the fingers pressing against the wound, feeling the hot liquid as it seeped between his fingers.

"Did we win?" The harsh voice spilled into the air.

Raenen dragged his eyes up from the wound to Rhett's face, scarred from years amongst the trees. He schooled his face into impassivity. "Yeah, buddy. We won."

"Good." Rhett lifted a hand and wrapped it around Raenen's wrist—too weak. His hold was too weak. "You gotta help Saege, ya hear?"

"No, I'm helping you." He pressed his hands down harder and turned away from Rhett's gaze.

"Raenen." The grip tightened momentarily. "Help Saege."

A thud behind them startled them out of the conversation—both men's eyes dragged through the air until they landed on Saege's unconscious form. Raenen cursed and turned back to Rhett. He grabbed the man's hands and pressed them over the wound. "Apply as much pressure as you can. I'll be right back."

He turned to leave but stopped at the hand Rhett placed on his arm. "Tell me little ones their daddy loves 'em."

Raenen shook his head. "You're going to live to tell them yourself." After making sure Rhett's hands were pressed firmly against the wound, he moved to Saege.

Panic coursed through his veins when he couldn't feel her pulse. He watched her chest for signs she was breathing, but if it was moving he couldn't tell. Raenen pressed his fingers more firmly against the vein in her neck.

"Come on. Saege, you have to be alright. We've come too far for you to die now." He tapped her cheeks lightly. "Wake up."

The breath he didn't know he was holding escaped when he finally felt her pulse. It was faint—barely there—but it was enough to know she was still alive.

He tapped her cheek again, trying to rouse her. Precious moments passed. Then a ragged gasp tore through her lungs as her eyes flew open. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her hand reached blindly towards him until he placed his hands on her arm to calm her, whispering soothing words to ease the panic that raced across her face.

"You're alright now. It's safe." Fingers wrapping around his arm, he winced as her nails dug into his flesh. "I need you to calm down." He pried himself loose and shuffled back. "Rhett's hurt bad." He placed a palm against her head and eased her back to the ground when she moved to sit up. "I'll be right back. Don't move."

Then he was back at Rhett's side. Agonizingly, Raenen pulled Rhett's fingers away from the wound and moved to cut away the clothing surrounding to for easier access to the area.

The wound was deep but short. He dapped at the area around it, wiping away much of the excess blood. The bleeding had slowed, but there was still too much for it to be safe and he didn't have the means to stitch it up.

Leaning back on his haunches, he dragged a hand through his hair. Saege had passed out again, and Rhett was out now too. He was running out of options.