Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 348

Sylvia clung to Jayson's hand with all her strength as he started to sink.

The poor boy's face had gone ghostly pale, terror written all over his features.

"Don't worry, I've got you," Sylvia urged, trying to sound calm, even as she hooked her other hand under his chin to keep his head above water.

Rescuing a six- or seven-year-old wasn't exactly easy, especially since his soaked clothes weighed him down like a sack of wet sand. Even for a grown woman, it was a struggle.

Thankfully, Sylvia hadn't been wearing much—just a thin summer dress, her arms free to move. The water was frigid, biting through her skin, but she gritted her teeth and pushed forward.

Slowly, painfully, she dragged the boy toward the riverbank. The moment they were close enough, the woman was there, sobbing as she reached out.

"Sylvia, give me your hand!"

"Take the boy first," Sylvia gasped, barely able to keep her grip.

She could feel herself growing weaker by the second, unsure how much longer she could hold on. But the woman scrambled down, murmuring frantic thanks as she pulled the shivering, petrified boy onto the shore.

Just as Sylvia reached for the woman's outstretched hand, something thick and heavy-a tree branch, big around as a baseball bat came sweeping down the current and slammed into her shoulder.

She barely had time to grunt in pain before her numb fingers slipped, and the river yanked her back into the freezing water.

the bank, voice

and struggling, but the current pulled her down. Cold and exhaustion closed over her like a heavy blanket. Her lungs burned, her vision

she saw a shadow moving through the rippling water-someone coming for

Hospital.

truck. For a second, everything was

was an arm-a strong, male arm, with a glinting silver ring on the finger that looked oddly out of place in the sterile hospital

raspy voice sounded at her ear just as she was trying to

still groggy. She reached down,

only

she was rolled over so she was facing him—his handsome face suddenly far too close for

her, tucking her tight against his chest. Sylvia squirmed, but the effort just left

Rupert, what are you doing?" she managed, trying to keep

together in a faint frown, clearly unimpressed

and down her back,

he muttered, voice soft but firm. "You

motion actually helped her catch her breath. Still, being pressed up against Rupert like this was more than a little awkward. She tried to put some space between them, but his hand landed at the nape of her neck, holding her

up just as Rupert finally opened his eyes. Up close, she noticed he looked a little pale-as if he'd been through

she couldn't explain, worry bloomed in