The days following the heist were a slow, agonizing slide into darkness.
Without the Dream-Root to dampen the magical connection, the baby’s growth accelerated. The "Conduit" nature of the child meant he was pulling energy from everywhere, but mostly from the nearest source: his mother.
Emily grew weaker by the hour. Her skin turned translucent, blue veins mapping her body like rivers. She couldn't walk to the bathroom without help. She couldn't eat; the baby consumed the nutrients before they even hit her stomach.
Ethan was a ghost. He spent his time pacing the cave, on calls with contacts in Europe, Asia, the darkest corners of the black market, offering his entire fortune for a single stem of Dream-Root.
The answer was always the same: None available.
Malachi had cleaned the market
