Edris stood near Selena, his eyes fixed on her face as the healer pressed a damp cloth gently against her forehead.
Her skin had grown paler since they returned, the faint flush from earlier now gone entirely. Even her lips had lost their color.
Kael paced a few steps away, dragging a hand through his hair before turning back again.
"She's worse."
The healer didn't look up. "I know."
Selena's fingers twitched weakly against the blanket.
It was a small movement—barely noticeable—but it sent a sharp tension through Edris's chest. Like her body was fighting something it could no longer contain.
Her breathing hitched.
Then steadied.
Then hitched again.
It was hard watching her suffer like this but there was nothing else they could do.
Edris crouched beside her, his hand hovering just above hers before finally closing the distance. Her skin was cold.
Colder than it should have been.
"We don't have time to wait," Kael said, his voice tighter now. "If Ronan—"
Footsteps.
