As I ate, the dizziness I had been fighting all day began to creep back. My eyelids grew heavier with each passing second, and my thoughts became sluggish.
"You look like you're about to pass out," he said, his voice softer now.
"I'm fine," I lied, though even I could hear how unconvincing it sounded.
"You've been through hell," he said, his gaze piercing. "Get some rest. I'll watch over you."
I tried to nod, but my head felt too heavy. The world around me seemed to blur, the edges softening until only his face remained clear.
The last thing I saw was the faint smile on his lips.
I woke up to darkness.
My head felt heavy, like it was stuffed with wet cotton, and my body burned with fever. The air was damp and cold, yet sweat clung to my skin. My eyelids fluttered, but everything blurred into smudged shadows. I blinked slowly, willing my vision to clear, and the first thing I noticed was the smell. It was earthy, metallic, and faintly sour.
