Alina’s POV

“Ares!”

His body went slack in my arms, his head lolling against my shoulder. For one horrifying heartbeat, everything stopped — the room, the sound, even my pulse.

Then reality came crashing back.

“Victor!” I screamed again, my voice breaking. “Hurry!”

The footsteps echoed down the hallway, followed by the slam of the door bursting open. Victor froze when he saw us — Ares’s limp form on the floor, blood streaking down his temple, his skin pale as ...