34The first breath was the most painful, and Alex found herself gasping as her life returned to her body. Her eyes still stung from tears, and she coughed as her chest heaved, her lungs struggling with each sharp intake of living air.
Treyan was immediately by her side, helping her sit while yelling for someone—anyone—to get her a glass of water. The cup was brought, and she drank it down readily between deep breaths as she tried to calm her now-beating heart.
When she appeared to be stable, Treyan wrapped his arms around her as sobs caused spasms to run through his body. Her own tears matched his as they remained within their embrace, and neither noticed the shock that overcame the Councillor and the healer as they stood silently, observing the Empress who had returned from the dead.
C
