"There's so much fire," Elizabeth coughed, choking on the hazy smoke as she cleared debris from her area. She squinted through the thick haze, but it only stung her eyes. Visibility was nearly nonexistent; she strained to see if any survivors remained.
Suddenly, a hand grasped her, pressing her against a solid chest. Sebastian leaned in, his voice urgent yet soothing, "Sweet, you don't want to be here. Wait for me at the carriage."
But Elizabeth's stubbornness held her firm. She clutched his shirt, despite the intensity of her cough. Her gaze locked onto his deep emerald eyes. Although troubled, Sebastian's eyes shimmered with love as they bore down on her. "It's not me you should worry about, but yourself. Go," he urged softly.
