The royal infirmary had turned into a place of hushed despair. Days had passed, but Henry remained motionless, his condition unchanged. The room where he lay had become a shrine to his fight, a battle that none of them could join or influence. Despite the constant presence of nurses and doctors, there was a suffocating silence that blanketed the space, broken only by the steady hum of monitors.
Kaius had barely left Henry’s side, sitting slumped in a chair near the bed, his face pale and drawn with exhaustion. Every so often, he would squeeze Henry’s hand, as though willing his best friend to wake up through sheer force of will.
Bella, Azriel, and Asher had arrived earlier that morning, their expressions grave as they entered the room. Bella immediately moved to Henry’s side, her face de
