𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐘𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘, 𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐖𝐔𝐋𝐅'𝐒 𝐉𝐎𝐁 𝐈𝐒. she understands that he understands it , that he showed back up after only a week of retirement to guard her after an incident that made the news , that he’s been doing this since they graduated school . understanding it , however , doesn’t make it any less horrifying when he has to do it -- when she’d let her guard down upon entering her office for half a second , when the first blast is intended to knock both of them out at once . wulf takes the worst of it , of course he does -- tucks her behind him as if on instinct ( it probably is ) , but they both know that he isn’t the target . . . and that neither of them may get a chance to act , surprised as they were . but astrid is capable on her own , reaction time or no reaction time , and people so like to forget this ( as if she hadn’t trained at the same time as wulf and caleb , as if her name wasn’t also on the list of testimonials , as if she hadn’t been the one to collar trent in the end ) . prone or no , spells quickly exchanged , non - casting hand pressed against the growing pain in her side . she can’t look over at eadwulf , can’t bear to see if he’s dead beside her -- but then he’s there , closer , moving as if to employ him in her defense . she watches his hand raise , his fingers shake , but the hurt he’d sustained earlier holds him at bay -- knows the look on his face , knows that he can’t get to her .
𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐔𝐋𝐅 𝐂𝐀𝐍'𝐓 𝐃𝐎, 𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐎 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅. a well - timed counterspell and a quick banishment thrown at the unknown assailant , concentration firmly clasped in her mind as she drags herself over to wulf -- as one hand searches her pockets for the greater healing potion she knows she has on her person somewhere . his breaths are loud in her ears , her own even louder , but she begins to fill the space with the sound of her voice -- the sound of zemnian . “ wulf -- stay with me , you’re not allowed to go anywhere . if you die because of me i’ll never forgive you . ” never forgive herself , more like , but whatever she thinks will help him hold on .