Lily's hands moved with practiced precision as she reached for a new vial. The glass was cool against her fingertips as she lifted it, the contents swirling with an ethereal blue glow that cast dancing shadows across her workspace.
Caspian leaned in closer, his presence a palpable force at her back. The scent of him - leather, spice, and something darker - enveloped her, making it hard to concentrate.
"And what's this?" he asked, his breath ghosting across her ear. "Something more... potent, perhaps?"
Lily suppressed a shiver, willing her voice to remain steady. "This," she said, holding the vial up to the light, "is for healing. Serious cuts, open wounds, that sort of thing."
The liquid seemed to pulse with an inner light, reacting to her touch. Lily found herself mesmerized by its s
