While the healer unhooked Keriya from the needle, Keriya allowed Max to fasten the brace around her. The straps were padded to prevent chafing, but they had to be bound so tightly that she felt as though her ribs were cracking. The metal plates were cold against the thin fabric of her hospital gown. They were molded to support her neck, and the top of the casing dug painfully into her jaw.
“Let’s see you stand,” said the healer.
Determined to prove she was up to the task, Keriya swung her legs off the bed and landed on her bare feet. A twinge shot through her spine, pain knotting in the vertebrae that Ítas had snapped. The room tilted dangerously before she steadied.
“How do you feel?” the woman asked.
“Just peachy,” Keriya said through a fake grin and gritted teeth.
With some relucta
