Christian's POV There was no other state of mind that could even slightly compare to the panic I felt with the simple thought of Lana hurt.. It was a feared state of mind.. An angry state of my body. I drove like a madman, unable to focus on anything else but the thought of her harmed.. The hope that she wasn't. In that whole blur, that mix of emotions that could no longer be controlled, I still managed to find some sanity and actually listen to what Calliope kept telling me.. Instead of focusing on all the fury towards that bastard that was responsible for all of that, on all the ways I would like him dead, I managed to find my way to believing she was alright.. She had to be alright. She- Christ, the simple thought of her hurt numbed my whole damn body. I promised her protection. Safety. And I failed. I never should've agreed on allowing her leave the house. I never should've trusted Khan Morpher.. Not with her life, dammit. I stopped probably in the middle of the road and rushed out of the car without even slightly hesitating. I ran through the path in the woods quicker than I ever did. I ran with the speed of the wind and damn me, but I knew I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to her. No, I couldn't even imagine it. It was a thought I refused to allow sink in. So I went through and around every tree and managed to reach the house as quick as possible, but it was exactly that moment that all the panic hit me, faster and stronger than it did before because there was no sight of her anywhere near the old crap. "Lana?!" I yelled not caring one fucking bit if any of those psychotic witches were near, because I already swore that the next time they step a foot in front of me, they would end up with no damn heads. My eyes could not focus on one damn thing in all that darkness.. It swirled in my head from how many times I turned around, from how quickly I searched around the house.. I looked towards every tree.. She said she was near some tree.. But there were millions of fucking trees around me! And just when that dread started crawling up my stomach once again, my eyes finally landed on a small figure under the thick dark shadows of the largest tree, the one nearest to the house.. With the way she was leaned against the tree, almost behind it from where I was standing, I wasn't even sure if it was a person.. But then she rose her head slightly, leaning it on the tree behind her.. Exposing the familiar splendid lines of that profile of hers, the familiar dark locks falling down her bare arms.. My heart stopped. It was Lana. Thank fucking God it was my Lana. The relief I felt.. I didn't want to feel it ever again. The relief of finding the woman that I loved in one piece.. Christ, I didn't even want to think about it. All I knew was that I was already rushing towards her.. Holding my breath and unable to stop the panic that was crawling back through me with a fucking untameable speed that I could not control.. I feared for the first time in my life. I feared for her life and I fucking hated that I had to. I hated that her life was put at such risk. Just the sight of her, sitting there, on the dirty ground, leaned against the tree in nothing but shorts and a shirt, both white, and both covered with dirt.. And blood.. It made me lose my mind. Her hands behind her, tied with a rope, and as I reached her, my brain no longer worked. I was fuckįng terrified for her. I was terrified with the thought of her hurt. The first thing I did was listen for her heartbeat, and that mesmerizing sound, quick and rapid, it never soothed me more. Then I scanned her as I got closer, searching every inch of her body and instantly noticing the dark red stains on her shirt, the scratches on her bare legs.. My mind was blank. I couldn't fuckįng think. I just know I fell on my knees in front of her, desperate to find those eyes looking back at mine.. Yet instead, they were closed. "Lana," I barely found my voice.. I was barely even breathing. I was barely alive myself. I instantly gripped the rope she was tied with.. It was tied tightly.. Way too damn tightly. She moved her head that was leaned against the tree on one side.. She was conscious. My heart stopped dead in my chest.. But she frowned.. She didn't open her eyes but simply frowned in clear pain and I felt something strike me right in the chest.. It was tearing my soul in thousands of pieces seeing her like that.. Seeing her in pain. I ripped the rope and she furrowed her brows some more. She didn't flinch or make a sound, yet she was in clear pain.. Christ, it was like a dagger in my chest. I looked down at my hands.. Blood on my fingers. Her blood. My fucking God. The rope made her wrists bleed. I crawled towards her, not even aware that I caressed her leg, her arm, trying to have her look at me with every strength I had left in my body.. My hands were fucking shaking, moving way too quickly and I was barely even aware. She was cold.. Freezing. I took her face in my hands.. Her skin was as pale as damn snow. My throat closed up and I was no longer inhaling the thick cold air around us. I- I was not in a sane state in that moment. "Lana, baby, it's me," I moved way too quickly, not even aware of my own words. Never in my life had I felt such desperation to see someone look back at me.. She moved her head again, like she could no longer hold it straight.. I heard her gulp slightly. And those long lashes slightly flattered.. Eyes of crystal green peeked.. Dull, weak, damn lost.. Yet still fearless.. How could she- Christ, how did she find the straight to keep that fierce in those eyes? "Christian," Something pushed down my chest.. Like a large stone chocking me.