Lana remained frozen in her feet, simply sighing in response. The sound was barely audible—soft, tired, and heavy with something that felt like defeat. The corridor around them was silent, except for the faint ticking of a clock somewhere down the hall and the muffled hum of the city beyond the windows.
"Are you okay?" Alexander continued, closing the little distance between them. His voice was quieter now, lower, as if he were afraid of startling her. He looked at her eyes for barely a second then let go of her arm to touch her forehead instead. His fingers were cold against her warm skin, the gesture hesitant but full of instinct. "If you feel sick—"
