When Lucian sped back the way he had followed, he had almost ridden past Ave on the road sides until he saw movement from the corner of his eye and pulled his reins to stop his horse. Looking to the side, he heard her small cries and saw her lying curled up on the ground with her hands grabbing her thigh.
In a flash, Lucian dismounted his horse and hurried towards her in long strides. "Aveline?" he called as he crouched down beside her and pulled her into a sitting position, only to hear her cry out in pain. When he glanced at her face, her eyes were filled with tears, and her expression was that of someone in agony, with her cheeks flushed.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he tried to inspect her body for any signs of injuries, as it seemed she must have fallen off the horse. But she flinched when he touched her leg.
