Etien lay motionless on the bed, his face pale but no longer hollow like it had been that afternoon. His breathing was steady now, slow, rhythmic, and for the first time since the poisoning, a faint flush had returned to his cheeks. The candles flickered in the corners of the room, casting long, wavering shadows across the walls.
Glen sat nearby, hands clenched tight over his knees, eyes locked on the Duke's sleeping form. He hadn't looked away once. Not even for a second. It was like he believed that if he did, Etien might vanish.
No. He'd done everything, anything, to keep Etien alive. He wouldn't let the Duke slip away. Not now. Not ever.
The door creaked open. Void stepped inside, his movements calm, carrying the chill of the hallway with him. He glanced at Glen, still glued to Etien's side, still gripping the Duke's hand like it was the only thing anchoring him to reality.
