Noctisardor Bypass He'd never upset you, never forget you

heda cringed as anselm's hard shoulders and twisted face burst through the foliage faster than she could disappear. her golden eyes flew wide, imploring him to stay quiet, to say nothing until etienne was gone. no matter what anselm might feel about seeing her here now, it would be so much worse if etienne knew she was present too.
only when she heard the other wounded man's footsteps retreating did she swing her ears toward anselm, and regarded him with a pained, almost knowing expression. "take him and leave. no one would blame you, truly. he's suffering here, and you — you — you don't want to be here either. he won't go if you don't, so leave, anselm, for his sake if you can't do it for you."
she hated to know what she had felt before: that she and ezra and gideon existed between anselm and etienne, occupying a place they didn't have to keep.