Zeph sat behind Lucien, one arm wrapped firmly around his chest to keep him upright, while his other hand held the reins loosely. The horse moved at a steady pace. Ahead and to the right, Zuri guided her own horse while also leading Lucien's horse.
Lucien was barely himself anymore. Despite Zeph's grip around him, he kept slumping forward against the horse's neck. His skin has gone pale and thin-looking, stretched too tight over the bones of his face. His lips held no color, and his under eyes were dark. The linen wrapped around his side has black liquid seeping from the wound. He looked like something already halfway into the grave.
