"I..." Lily backed up a step, legs shaking. She looked wildly around at her family, the doctor.
They stared at her as though she was a demon herself. All but Jorris, who just seemed...heartbroken.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head as she tried to take another step back. Doctor Andres stepped in front of her family, his voice quivering slightly.
"Stay back, mage. All of you, get out of here." He tried to usher the Hartnets from the room, eyes fixed on Lily and Jace.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she reached after them helplessly. "Mama... Papa, please..."
Her father dropped his eyes, dragging her stunned and speechless mother from the room. The twins wouldn't even look at her. Jorris and the doctor exchanged a look, a nod, then her brother moved toward her.
Angrily, he snapped at Jace, "This never would have happened if she hadn't met you." Whether it was true or not it didn't matter; he was angry and grieving and he needed to vent that rage. He looped an arm around his sister's waist and held her close. Lily collapsed against him, shuddering and holding back sobs.
Jorris met Jace's eyes. "I won't let her got to the camps." There was a deep pain in his eyes, a sort of hopelessness. "But I don't trust you to protect her. The doctor with call for the guards, I can't stop him." He clenched his eyes shut and pressed a kiss to Lily's hair. "I'm sorry, sweetling," he whispered.
She barely even felt him move, just a little shift of the arm that didn't hold her. Pain, icy and sharp, spread from her ribs. Her lips parted in a soundless gasp and she stared up at her brother, confusion and terror warring in her expression.
"I'm sorry," Jorris whispered again, tears streaking down his face. He tossed the bloodied knife he pulled from her side at Jace's feet and turned to flee the room.
Lily's knees shook, then gave out. Once again she dropped to the ground, but this time she was conscious, gasping desperately for air, the wound in her side protesting sharply with every breath as she began to bleed out.