Lara also collapsed onto the ground, her garments smeared with crimson. The sight struck Alaric like a dagger—his pupils constricted as he dropped to his knees beside her. His hands trembled violently as he pressed them against her stomach, desperate to stop the bleeding he imagined was there.
"Lara…" his voice cracked, heavy with dread.
General Odin and the Norse brothers caught sight of the scene: Alaric pressing his hands over Lara's stomach, her body streaked with blood. Their hearts lurched, and with a roar they forced their way through the street, kicking aside groaning pirates who dared to block their path.
"Lara..."
"Sister.."
Their voices overlapped, sharp with panic, a chorus of anguish that rang in Lara's skull like iron striking iron. She winced, pressing a hand to her temple.
