Adeline’s POV
The steady beep of the monitor filled the ward, soft and even, like a second heartbeat. Beneath the blankets, Myra’s small chest rose and fell in gentle breaths. Only then did I feel my own lungs loosen, the tight knot in my chest easing just a little for the first time since I stepped into this palace.
I tugged off the surgical mask, the elastic snapping against my damp skin, and wiped my forehead with the back of my sleeve. Sweat beaded along my hairline and slid down the side of my temple. My hands trembled faintly, not from lack of skill, but from the weight of what I had carried in here—the weight of two lives: hers and mine.
The line on the monitor stayed steady, smooth and sure. Relief hit me so hard I had to grip the edge of the bed to keep steady. She was safe—for
