I shrieked, letting out a sob as I saw him being whisked away by the guards. He tried to restrain, the guard's hands grasped around his beaten body, dragging him across the gravel away from me. I ran at him, screaming as I willed my feet to move. He needed to survive, he couldn't leave me. I couldn't face this alone. Then he was thrown to the ground, an axe raised above his head. Then it was swinging down as if in slow motion. My throat constricted as a blood curdling scream escaped my lungs, and I watched the blade connect with his neck.
I broke out in jagged breaths as I awoke. My palm flew to my forehead, wiping the sweat from my skin as I gasped for air. I kicked off the covers as if they themselves were shackles. Carter lay still beside me, alive. I let myself relax.
It had been jus
