The quiet that followed Georgia's departure lingered gently within the chamber, broken only by the occasional rustle of curtains and the faint crackle of the hearth where embers glowed low and steady.
Valen had drifted somewhere between waking and sleep, her body still heavy with exhaustion, yet her mind floated closer to clarity with each passing minute.
A deep, throbbing pained lodged beneath her ribs but it was no longer the blinding agony that had threatened to consume her entirely.
The door burst open without warning, the sudden sound startled her, though she lacked the strength to visibly react before a familiar voice filled the room.
"Valen!"
Lucas crossed the distance in what felt like a single stride, urgency pouring from him with such intensity that it seemed to disturb the very air.
