The first thing Darius felt when he opened his eyes was pain, deep, searing, and raw. It pulsed through his veins like fire, each breath dragging the burn deeper. For a moment, he didn’t recognize where he was. The world swam in and out of focus, the ceiling above him spinning. Then came the scent. Moonlight and ash. And her.

Selene.

She was slumped beside him, head resting against the edge of his bed, one of her hands still wrapped around his. Her fingers were bandaged, faint traces of ...