Chapter 68 — Mom
The arrow wasn't meant for Eli.
Nobody would ever know which side fired it, whose hand let it fly, whose target had actually stepped out of the way at the last second.
It didn't matter now.
All that mattered was the small body in Nora's arms, and the fighting around her had already gone quiet by the time she looked down and understood what had happened.
She was on her knees. She didn't remember going down.
Eli's face was turned up toward hers, his eyes still open, his little chest rising and falling too fast. His hand lifted, slow and shaky, and his fingers found her cheek.
He touched her the way he always did when he wanted her attention, patting once, twice, like he was checking she was still there.
His lips moved.
"Mom."
One word. Small and clear, the first
