Cold night air wrapped around us like a trembling breath. The stars overhead shimmered against a dark sky, sharp and distant, uncaring. Snow crunched beneath our boots as we put distance between ourselves and the collapsed cavern, but no one spoke. The silence followed us like a shadow, heavy and waiting.
When we finally stopped in a small clearing sheltered by pines, my legs nearly gave out. The girl lay limp in Soren’s arms, her small frame too light, too fragile. He set her down carefully on a blanket Ryn had spread out. Her white dress blended with the frost. Her silver eyes were closed, her lashes trembling faintly against her cheeks.
I knelt beside her, my heart pounding too hard, too fast. My hands shook as I brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead. Her skin was warm again
