Kael
Consciousness returned slowly, like surfacing from deep water.
At first, there was only warmth and the steady rhythm of a heartbeat that wasn’t my own. The sharp agony that had consumed me in the forest was gone, replaced by a dull soreness that felt almost distant in comparison. The scent of antiseptic and clean linens lingered in the air, grounding me before my eyes even opened.
I was in the infirmary.
The realization settled as I forced my eyes open, blinking against the soft light. For a moment, everything was slightly blurred, but then a familiar face came into focus beside me.
Reddick.
He was leaning forward in his chair, elbows braced on his knees, his hand loosely wrapped around mine as if he had been anchoring me there. The tension in his features melted the instant he
