Prince's Gambit (Captive Prince, #2)

by C.S. Pacat

‘I saw you fall.’ Damen heard the rough sound of his own voice. ‘Are you hurt?’ ‘No,’ said Laurent. ‘No, you got to him.’ He had pushed himself up into a splayed sitting position. ‘Before.’ Damen was passing a hand from the join of Laurent’s neck and shoulder down over his chest, frowning. But there was no blood, no protruding bolt or fletching. Had the fall injured him? Laurent sounded dazed. Damen’s attention was all on Laurent’s body. Concerned with the possibility of injury, he was only distantly aware of Laurent looking back at him. Laurent’s body was very still under his hands as the water from the stream soaked into his clothes. ‘Can you stand? We need to move out. It’s not safe for you here. Too many people want to kill you.’ After a moment, Laurent said, ‘Everyone to the south, but only half the people to the north.’ He was staring at Damen. He had clasped the forearm that Damen had extended to him, and used it to lever himself up, dripping.

THIS SCENE.