she had spent most of the night trembling against her bedroom wall after leaving Kael’s side. She had soothed him through the curtain until his fever eased, but when dawn arrived and Mara finally ushered her away.

She had returned to her room only to hear Kael calling her name still; his voice was hoarse, broken, but at least he was alive.

Now she sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her training gear laid neatly by Mara. Her hands shook as she reached for it.

“I know you don’t want ...