Orin’s povI was staring at Kaelis’s lifeless body on my bed. I had brought her to the one place that I could keep her safe.

Her fingers were pale, lying lifeless on the blanket and I couldn’t move. My arms felt heavy, my stomach twisted. My throat felt tight, and every beat of my heart echoed like a drum.

My hands itched to touch her, to make sure she was real, but I stayed frozen, afraid that even a small movement could shatter something fragile inside her.

My eyes traced the curve of ...