Lira approached him quietly.
"You're losing ground," she said.
Kael didn't look up. "I noticed."
She sat beside him again.
Close.
Not touching.
"Let me help," she said.
"You don't even know what this is."
"No," she admitted. "But I know what it does."
Kael hesitated.
Then extended his hand.
She took it.
And again—
The fire stilled.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"That shouldn't work," he said.
"I know."
Their hands didn't separate this time.
Neither of them mentioned it.
End of Chapter 8