Valden's breath was ragged against my knuckles and I could hear him wheezing and panting as he struggled to pick himself up by himself. His pulse fluttered weakly as I pressed my thumb against the point in his neck.
I didn't move, just held him close, knowing I had to let him go through that because of me.
Darek wanted information about me from Valden. Information I had hoped was buried deep in the Earth just like everyone who died in the mist. The only person who knew about it was Valden. And he hadn't uttered a word even after everything.
Kinley was already barking orders as I contemplated everything.
"Get Captain Malawitt to the infirmary immediately. And someone clean up this gooddamn mess!"
A bunch of burly-looking guards were bustling in and helped lift Valden gingerly onto a white stretcher. They held him so gently as they transferred him onto the fabric that I dropped back down on the dirt floor in relief.
