Chris was even whiter than usual and so cold that she could easily be mistaken for dead as well. The only thing keeping him sane was the raspy breaths she drew. They were short and hard, but they meant that she was still alive.
There would come a time for tears, but now was not it. He recognized some of the men, and despite the colors they wore, they were not from Ametade.
He stayed calm, it was the only option if he wanted the best chance of her surviving.
"Grab the blanket off my bed." he tightened his grip around Chris, leaning both himself and her down to the floor. Using his knees as support he propped her legs up above her chest, trying to keep the blood circulating to the most important parts.
Brennan turned to him, only now seeing Chris unconscious. not wasting a second he ran upstairs, trying not to listen as Zeven spoke low and soothing words to Chris. Doing it to reassure himself more than for her.
When he returned with the blanket, Zeven wrapped it snugly around Chris.
"I don't feel safe here anymore," his hands never left Chris, holding on to her, afraid that if he let her go her very soul would fly up to the heavens. "We need to leave."
Brennan saw the tears threatening to spill over. Anything more would have been too much. He stood dangerously close to the ledge.
Standing, with her still in his arms, Zeven made his way to the front door waiting for Brennan to open it for him. As quickly as he dared he made his way to the two horses that Brennan and Chris had left outside.
When he reached her horse he paused. Trying to find the best way to get her up. She wasn't even conscious enough to hold on if he sat her up there, and if he wasn't careful he would agitate her wounded shoulder.
Brennan appeared behind him easily guessing the thoughts in Zeven's head, "I'll hold her for a second."
Zeven turned back to him with eyes like a frightened animal. desperate not to be apart from her for even a moment. Stepping away from him while pulling Chris closer to himself. It was an instinctual moment, he hadn't even noticed he moved until he found himself farther away from Brennan.
He looked down at Chris. She limp and cold in his arms. realising that there was nothing he could do for her as long as he continued to hold her, he drew a deep breath gritting his teeth as he allowed Brennan to take her from his arms.
Without any prompting he mounted the horse that Chris had used earlier that night. Once he was secure and steady, he leaned over to take her back from Brennan. As he lifted her up he must have jostled her injured shoulder too much because she made a soft cry in her sleep.
But they could not afford to wait any longer. So he continued to pull her up. He made her straddle the horse before leaning her back against him. With one hand he held the reins, but the other was wrapped tightly around her waist.
The dark lacy fabric concealed most of the blood that flowed from her shoulder, however he could feel it as it soaked through the dress.
Hardly waiting for Brennan to mount his own stead, he took off into the night.