The cold, dark alleyway was completely silent after the King's guards dragged Prince Liam away. The only sounds left were the howling winter wind and the ragged, shallow breathing of the Grand Duchess.
Derek sat on his knees in the freezing, wet snow. His own back was numb from the paralyzing arrow, but he did not feel it anymore. He felt nothing except the terrifying, heavy weight of his wife resting in his arms.
Marissa lay across his lap. Her beautiful face was losing its color, turning a scary, pale white. The green poison from Liam's arrow was moving rapidly through her veins.
Derek looked down at her. He was completely helpless. He could not stop the poison. He could not save her.
His tears fell down his cheeks and dropped onto her cold skin. He did not care about crying. He did not care about being a strong man. He was losing his entire world.
