I woke two days later in my own bed, sunlight streaming warm through the pink curtains I had not yet found the heart to replace, my body aching in ways that told me exactly how much I had spent that night.
My mother sat beside the bed, relief flooding her face the moment my eyes opened. "You're awake," she breathed, pressing a cool hand against my forehead. "You had us all terrified, Selene."
"How long," I managed, my voice cracked and dry.
"Two days. Your father has been in and out checking on you constantly, when he isn't dealing with the aftermath of everything that happened at the border." She helped me sit up slowly, propping pillows behind me with practiced care. "He's recovering well, thanks to you. The healers say they've never seen poison drawn out so cleanly."
Relief washed t
