WHEN MORNING FINDS THEM
Elara woke with her neck aching and her fingers numb.
For a moment, she didn’t remember where she was. Then she felt warmth beneath her hand. Solid. Real. Breathing.
Kael.
She sucked in a sharp breath and lifted her head. She had fallen asleep sitting upright in the chair beside his bed, her hand still wrapped around his like she’d been afraid he might vanish if she let go.
He hadn’t.
His chest rose and fell in an easy, steady rhythm. Color had returned to his skin, chasing away the gray that had terrified her the night before. The wound at his side—where the poisoned arrow had struck—was gone. Not scarred. Gone.
Elara stared at it, her throat tight.
“How are you even real?” she whispered.
His fingers moved.
Not much. Just enough.
Her heart leapt so hard
