Somewhere in the depths of his own mind, Alaric floated in darkness.
That was amazing.
He could see everything.
But he couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Could only observe as another consciousness piloted his body.
If I could fight like that—
Then the world lurched.
Like being grabbed by the scruff of the neck and yanked forward. Alaric's awareness slammed back into his body.
His eyes snapped open.
Stone wall pressed against his spine. Blood tacky on his palms, drying in the creases of his fingers.
The creature's corpse sprawled a few feet away, one eye still open and staring at nothing.
Every muscle in his body screamed protest. His essence channels felt raw, scraped clean, like nerve endings rubbed with sandpaper.
"Rest for a while here."
The voice came from inside his mind.
"Don't go running off anywhere. You need recovery time."
Alaric nodded before he could stop himself. Then froze, awareness catching up to instinct.
