The thump of the rotors seemed to come from a hundred miles away as she stared at Carter’s body.
He isn’t moving. Why isn’t he moving?
She had to know Carter was alive. Suddenly, she lifted her feet, letting her body weight drop like a stone. Caught off guard in mid-stride Nathaniel grunted in surprise. The rain made her skin slippery and he lost his grip. As he fought to hold her the knife sliced through the flesh of her shoulder.
She hit the ground and rolled. Gasping, she rose on to her knees, clutching her bleeding arm. It felt as if someone had set her arm on fire. Hot blood poured over her fingers and she stared down in puzzled dismay, too stunned to flee.
But Sylvain and Zoe were between her and Nathaniel now. Zoe held a heavy stone in one hand. Sylvain didn’t need one.
The wind from the helicopter rotors buffeted them – she saw Zoe’s jacket inflate around her like a balloon, and felt herself being thrown around by the deadly, spinning blades. Fighting the force of it, she threw up a hand to protect her eyes from beads of rain being thrown with such force they struck like stones.
Then, looking past her, Nathaniel cursed.
Following his gaze, Allie saw a mass of black-clad guards climbing over the castle walls. Dozens of them. Moving in silence, with deadly grace, they poured over the stone like black oil.
Raj was here.
Nathaniel turned back to her, his gaze narrow.
‘You made the wrong choice, Allie,’ he shouted above the cacophony. ‘You will pay for this. Tell Lucinda she’s already lost.’
Around them, black-clad guards swarmed the castle yard.
His shoulders high, Nathaniel climbed into the helicopter. Through the rain, she saw him motion to the pilot and it began to climb, swinging dangerously in the wind.
Allie leaned back to watch it go, willing it to crash. But it rose into the storm and disappeared, the rhythmic thud of the rotors gradually fading.
THIRTY-FIVE
‘O
uch!’ Allie jerked her wounded arm out of Sylvain’s grip, wrapping her hand round it protectively.
‘Allie, I must roll up your sleeve to see the wound,’ he insisted gently. ‘I know it hurts but we have to stop the bleeding.’
‘I know,’ she said. ‘It’s just… ow.’
Around them, guards swarmed like insects, searching the castle grounds for anything Nathaniel might have left behind.
‘Hang on a second,’ Carter said. He turned to one of the guards. ‘Excuse me, mate. Have you got a knife I can borrow?’
The guard stopped and took in the scene. Blood still dripped from Allie’s arm, mixing with mud on the ground. Pulling a dangerous-looking blade from a holster on his hip, he flipped it over expertly, handing it to Carter hilt first.
‘Thanks.’ Carter held the knife out to Sylvain.
‘Come on, Allie.’ Sylvain held out his hand. ‘One more try.’
Biting her lip hard, she held out her arm to him. Very carefully, he lifted the cuff of her sleeve and slit it with the knife. The blade was sharp. The fabric gave easily, all the way to the shoulder. Handing the knife back to Carter, Sylvain peeled the sodden fabric back. The cold air felt good against the wound.
Sylvain’s breath hissed between his teeth as he saw the cut. His grip tightened on her wrist.
All Allie could see was blood. Wincing, she tried not to look at it.
‘It’s a long cut but I don’t think it needs a tourniquet.’ Sylvain glanced at Carter for confirmation.
Peering at the wound, Carter nodded. ‘The bleeding is slowing. Bind it and let’s get her back for stitches.’
As the others watched, Sylvain pulled off his own jacket and cut off one of the arms with the knife. He wrapped that around the wound snugly then used a strip of her shredded sleeve to tie it in place.
The makeshift bandage was secure. Allie’s arm instantly felt better.
‘Hold it like this.’ Sylvain demonstrated, holding his arm across his chest. Obediently, Allie emulated him and he smiled, squeezing her good hand. ‘Now, we need to get you back.’
‘We have to find Rachel first,’ Allie insisted. ‘I’m not going without her.’
Frowning, Nicole peered into the distance. ‘Zoe went after her ages ago. She should be back by now.’
‘Let’s find Raj,’ Carter said. ‘He’ll know.’
‘I think I saw him over by the wall.’ Sylvain pointed.
They headed that way. Carter had one arm around Nicole, whose damaged leg barely bore her weight.
Allie didn’t like the bruise on his jaw – it was purple and swelling. ‘That looks bad, Carter.’
‘It just needs some ice.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘It’s my neck that really hurts. I didn’t like the way it crunched when Gabe hit me.’
Sylvain looked at Allie. ‘It’s you I’m worried about – you’ve lost a lot of blood.’
‘I feel OK,’ she said. She looked over at him. ‘You and Zoe were great back there. I haven’t had a chance to thank you.’
His lips tightened. ‘I’m sorry Nathaniel got away.’
‘Me too,’ Allie said quietly.