Blood soaked through Mira's uniform faster than Serena could process, and the world narrowed to nothing but her roommate's fading pulse beneath trembling fingers.
"Stay with me," Serena begged, pressing both hands against the wound, silver light already gathering instinctively beneath her palms without conscious thought. "Mira, please, stay with me—"
"Move." Kael dropped to his knees beside her, tearing strips from his own jacket to press against the wound, voice sharp with barely controlled panic. "Cassian, get the healers, now!"
Cassian was already sprinting toward the Healing Den, shouting for assistance, while Mira's breath came shallow and labored, her eyes fluttering weakly between consciousness and something far more frightening.
"This is my fault," Serena whispered, horror and
