Alyssa froze in shock, collapsing into Exeter's arms, while Josephine's sharp scream startled a murder of crows from the treetops, their harsh caws echoing ominously.
A grim shadow seemed to settle over everyone.
I pushed through the crowd, took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly, regaining my composure.
"Why are you all just standing there? Someone, get a doctor!" I took charge, assigning tasks to the guards. "You, go back to the estate and alert Andrew. Have him prepare for a wounded man. You, see if there's a cart at a nearby home."
Blood bubbled up from Owen's mouth with each breath, clearly indicating a lung injury.
I stepped closer, listening carefully to his ragged, wheezing breaths.
The damage to his lungs was clear.
As I stepped closer, Josephine blocked my path, her ey
