The ache that had settled in my body all morning deepened as the day wore on. It wasn’t the exhaustion of sleep deprivation or the muscle strain I’d felt earlier—it was something far more invasive. A heat built in my chest, low and persistent, spreading through my veins like wildfire.
Dominic noticed immediately. His brow furrowed, and he placed a steadying hand on my arm as I swayed slightly.
“Lila?” His voice was gentle, but there was a sharp edge of concern that cut through my growing haze.
“I’m fine,” I murmured, though the words felt hollow even as I said them.
Alessa and Kai had returned a while ago, their quiet conversation fading into the background as the fire crackled in the cave. But now, all sounds seemed distant, muffled by the roaring in my ears. My vision swam, the edges
