Lyra's POV
I sat between Soren's unconscious body and Riven's bandaged side, the healing wing quiet except for their breathing and the distant sound of Kael's voice organizing guards in the hallway outside. The lamplight flickered low, throwing long shadows across the two beds, and somewhere beyond the walls I could still hear the faint echo of shouting from the courtyard.
Soren had not woken since the collapse. His face looked pale even against the white pillow, dried blood still crusted at the edges of his eyes where it had not been fully cleaned away, his breathing slow and shallow in a way that made my stomach twist every time I looked at him. Riven's shoulder wound had stopped bleeding, but the burns along his arms still looked raw and angry under the bandages, the skin blistered i
