The silver glow faded from my skin slowly, like mist lifting after rain. The power that had filled the room began to retreat, leaving a deep stillness behind. The only sound was Kael’s uneven breathing as he leaned back against the pillows.
He looked alive again. His chest rose steady, and the gray tint that had crept across his skin was gone. But the effort had left him pale and trembling, his face damp with sweat. I could tell the poison had taken more from him than either of us wanted to admit.
I sank into the chair beside the bed. My body felt hollow, almost weightless. The power had drained me from the inside. My hands still glimmered faintly, each pulse matching the beat of my heart.
Kael’s eyes followed the faint light. His voice was rough when he spoke. “I should be dead.”
