Evaline:
The moment I reached his bedside, everything inside me stilled.
The world didn't exist beyond this point - not the chamber, not the other patients waking up, not the voices, the movement, or the chaos that had begun to rise around us.
But only him... only Draven.
My breath came out in shallow, uneven pulls as I stood there, my fingers hovering just inches above his hand. I was too afraid to touch him.
I felt that if I did touch him... he would disappear and this moment would slip through my fingers.
Behind me, I heard Rowan's raw voice breaking as he called Naira's name.
"Na-Naira…"
I didn't turn, but I heard the soft gasp that followed along with the choked sob.
"She's awake-she's awake-"
The room erupted in quiet chaos. Relief, tears, and voices overlapped, but barely any of it reached me.
Because all my attention shifted to Draven's hand as his fingers twitched.
