They burst through the cottage door, Leona stumbling from exhaustion and blood loss. Thalia caught her before she could fall, supporting her weight as they made their way to the back room.
Lucas looked worse than when they'd left. His skin had taken on a grayish pallor, and the black veins from the poison had spread across his entire chest and up to his jaw. His breathing was so shallow Leona could barely see his chest moving.
"We got them," Thalia announced, pulling out the moonpetals. The flowers still glowed with that soft silver light, even away from the forest.
Eliza took them carefully, her expression grave. "You made it back with an hour to spare. That's cutting it closer than I would have liked."
"Is he going to make it?" Leona asked, moving to Lucas's side. His hand was cold when she touched it, and through the bond she could barely feel his presence. Like a candle about to flicker out.
