Miri's Pov
The light exploded outward, swallowing everything in a blinding flash. I gasped and threw an arm over my eyes, the world reduced to white. For a heartbeat I thought maybe I had gone deaf too—because all I heard was the rushing of blood in my ears. Then, as quickly as it came, the light thinned and faded, leaving afterimages burned into my vision.
I blinked rapidly, shapes slowly returning. The battlefield was still, or at least quieter. Caius and Riven had stepped back. Their shoulders rose and fell with labored breaths, sweat glistening down their temples.
My heart lurched. Denise.
I scrambled upright, panic tightening every muscle. My eyes searched desperately, bracing for the crushing emptiness of her absence. But she was still there. My chest loosened with a shaky sigh of relief.
Except—she was fading.
Her edges blurred, her body almost translucent in the lingering glow. My relief cracked into terror.
