The last of the poison's fire finally faded from my blood. I drew in a deep, full breath—the first one in weeks that didn't feel like broken glass in my lungs. The weakness was still there, a ghost of what I'd suffered, but it was fading fast. I flexed my hands, feeling the strength slowly returning to my muscles.

Good. I'll need it.

Marcus watched me from across the safe house's main room, his sharp eyes tracking my every movement. He hadn't spoken much since my... outburst. The memory of my ...