The scent of antiseptic filled the air as I stepped into the infirmary, a sharp contrast to the earthy, pine-laced aroma of Cedar Creek outside. The walls, once a familiar sanctuary of safety, now felt suffocating under the weight of what lay beyond them. The sterile white light cast stark shadows, and the rhythmic beeping of machines melded with the hushed murmurs of healers working tirelessly. But all of it faded the moment my gaze landed on the bed at the far end of the room.
Kai.
He was barely recognizable. His golden skin, once kissed by the sun, now bore the pallor of someone teetering too close to the veil. Deep purple bruises marred his torso where the bandages hadn’t covered, and his right arm was secured in a sling, the thick gauze over his chest stark against the deep red welt
