Days passed, blurring together in a haze of exhaustion and pain. Raelynn felt herself slipping further into weakness, her body betraying her more and more with each passing hour. The pain would come and go in unpredictable waves, sharp and consuming, knocking the air from her lungs until she had no choice but to surrender to unconsciousness. It was terrifying—this feeling of slipping away, of losing control over her own body. Yet no matter how much she pleaded, no matter how much she questioned, Elion refused to take her to a hospital.
The mansion had grown colder, or maybe it was just her. Even with the fireplace burning, even with layers of blankets wrapped around her, a deep chill settled into her bones. Zake was always there now, watching over her like a silent sentinel. He never left, standing near her door, near the hallway, near any place she happened to be. But for all his presence, he never gave her answers.
