One second.
Two seconds.
Three.
I sat completely still with my hand pressed to my chest, counting. Waiting for it to come back. That second heartbeat—his heartbeat.
The one I hadn’t even known existed until twenty minutes ago and now couldn’t imagine living without.
Nothing.
“Rhea—”
“Shut up.” I held up a hand. “Just—shut up. Please, give me a second.”
Sora kept quiet.
I closed my eyes and pushed everything out. The noise of the carriage, the horses, the wind, and Sora’s breathing. I pushed it all out and went looking for him the way you search a dark room, slowly and carefully with your hands out.
There.
Faint. So faint I thought I was imagining it, it was like an ember that had almost gone out.
But it was there.
“He’s alive,” I said.
Sora let out a breath.
“He’s barely a
